Sun on the Hills, Clouds on the Mountains

Both paintings are from photos I took when we were in Colorado this past May-June for a HS graduation (but done back at home).  For these two, I tried a wet-in-wet technique and mixed the watercolor paint on the wet paper, hoping to get more interesting color gradients.  For the most part, I am pleased with the results.

                                    Watercolor on 140 lbs paper 9x12


Another smaller painting from the same hike.  I like the clouds and the foreground but the center piece rock out cropping did not turn out as I hoped.

                                    Watercolor on 140 lbs paper 6x8


When we are visiting Colorado, we always try to do something active in nature.  While there, we did a short hike in the foothills of the Rockies (Red Rock Canyon Open Space) as we did not have time to do some of the longer, higher trails.  Even still, the views were spectacular, especially the skies.   During the hike, the skies we clear blue with puffy clouds, however, as we heading back, the skies started to get ominous.  By the time we were back at our hotel (~15 min later), the skies were black and it was a full on hail storm!  Just another typical day I hear.