Day 5 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

SHELTERED

The inspiration for this painting is from a poem I wrote a long time ago while sitting on the shore of Lake Superior.  I've since lost track of that poem but what impressed me that day was the fragility of the little gull feather lodged in the rocks.  The water swirled around it, the smooth rocks clattering against one another, but the feather stayed firmly sheltered in its spot.  It spoke to me of God's care for us. No matter how things swirl around us and try to push us into the deep, we're sheltered.  It's His promise!

My process for this watercolor included first painting the feather, then laying down fresh pigment on dry paper and laying saran wrap into it for the rock and water texture….an old trick, but very useful for this painting.  Add splashed water drops and some glazed negative shapes to describe the oval rock shapes found on Lake Superior and there you have it.