Gouache Painting: Hartz Mountains Reflections by the River

By lindywhitton on August 3, 2024

Postcard No 37: Life by the River

Trevor (husband) loves big trees and we're lucky enough to live very close to the southern forests of Tasmania where some magnificent eucalyptus trees grow. Today we went for a drive and walked into one of these giants for some peaceful forest time and to appreciate the sheer wonder of nature. On the way home we passed the Port Huon harbour with it's lovely backdrop of hills and mountains and lots of little white boats moored in the calm waters. Aha! Today's postcard!

There's just something about boats that I find really appealing. Maybe it's the possibility of adventures or the bracing ozone rushing past as the boat skims through the water...somehow I tend to overlook the sad reality that I'm not a very good sailor! If the water gets a bit choppy I'm over the side bringing up lunch. Painting them is much more relaxing than sailing them.

Here I'm looking down river towards tr=the Hartz Mountains, the sun is shining and there's just enough movement to blur the reflections slightly.

As alwys with gouache it's a race to get the paint down and working together before it dries so there are several layers of colours in the trees to create all those different greens.

I thought it was a bit too pretty when I finished so I added in a few fineliner squiggles to loosen it up a bit.

I keep black, white and sepia fine markers in my kit to cope with the fine lines of rigging.

I used to stick to one medium when I first started out painting but now I'm much happier to mix it up. In fact I'm almost happy when a painting fails because it gives me permission to just go at it with whatever I have to hand. Experimenting with mixed media has helped free me up and I've made creative discoveries that have fed into my larger works.

What's you favourite mixed media combo?

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