From water to the desert

Oh I love Direct Watercolor Month! Even when my explorations don't deliver the results I hoped for. I was inspired by one of Marc Taro Holmes' pieces from a view of Death Valley. It was so beautiful, delicate and strong at the same time. So I wanted to try something from photos of Death Valley from the last time we were there, a few years ago. Needless to say my attempts look nothing like Marc's silk-and-lace-like scene. But it doesn't mean I'll abandon the idea! We'll call this a first step!

For these two, I worked on a quarter sheet of Two Rivers paper, super rough!

I tried some vegetation, and definitely didn't achieve what I had in my mind! I need to be more delicate and use a lot more water, and figure out a more interesting value range! This was on cold press paper, Bockingford or Saunders Waterford.

Sunrise, Death Valley

Furnace Creek Inn

 

I tried to paint this date tree (at least I believe they are date trees - yes they are, I've just checked) in a looser style. As seen from the Furnace Creek Inn, Death Valley.

Panamint Springs

I thought Panamint Springs was even more beautiful than Death Valley. So peaceful. So breathtaking. Maybe it's because we had it all to ourselves, with a couple dragonflies and butterflies.

Death Valley vegetation

Death Valley

Also spent two days in Death Valley