“Grassy Falls” Medium: Watercolor & Pen on Cold Press Paper (120 lb) Size: 10" x 12"
“Grassy Falls” captures the rugged beauty of a winter waterfall, nestled in the heart of the Rockies, where the landscape shifts between the natural and the human-made. Painted in the biting cold of -12°C, I worked quickly to preserve the scene before the light and temperature changed. The painting depicts the cascading waters of Grassy Falls, surrounded by frozen grasses and rocky terrain. Yet, what makes this piece unique is the addition of pen work, which brings the human presence into the landscape—communication poles and power lines stretch through the scene, quietly marking the intersection of nature and infrastructure.
While the pen lines represent the subtle imprints of human civilization, they also serve as a tool for capturing the contours, edges, and angles of the terrain itself. These lines add a structural dimension to the organic flow of the watercolor, emphasizing the sharp contrasts and inspiring geometry of the surrounding landscape. The quick, gestural pen strokes paired with the flowing, unpredictable watercolor create a dynamic tension, embodying both the tranquility of nature and the often unnoticed traces of human impact.
As with many of my plein air works from that month, “Grassy Falls” is a study in both speed and observation, painted in the moment and at the mercy of the weather. The harsh cold forced me to work with urgency, yet it also brought a certain clarity to my process, allowing me to capture the raw, unfiltered energy of the scene.
“Grassy Falls” captures the rugged beauty of a winter waterfall, nestled in the heart of the Rockies, where the landscape shifts between the natural and the human-made. Painted in the biting cold of -12°C, I worked quickly to preserve the scene before the light and temperature changed. The painting depicts the cascading waters of Grassy Falls, surrounded by frozen grasses and rocky terrain. Yet, what makes this piece unique is the addition of pen work, which brings the human presence into the landscape—communication poles and power lines stretch through the scene, quietly marking the intersection of nature and infrastructure.
While the pen lines represent the subtle imprints of human civilization, they also serve as a tool for capturing the contours, edges, and angles of the terrain itself. These lines add a structural dimension to the organic flow of the watercolor, emphasizing the sharp contrasts and inspiring geometry of the surrounding landscape. The quick, gestural pen strokes paired with the flowing, unpredictable watercolor create a dynamic tension, embodying both the tranquility of nature and the often unnoticed traces of human impact.
As with many of my plein air works from that month, “Grassy Falls” is a study in both speed and observation, painted in the moment and at the mercy of the weather. The harsh cold forced me to work with urgency, yet it also brought a certain clarity to my process, allowing me to capture the raw, unfiltered energy of the scene.
“Grassy Falls” captures the rugged beauty of a winter waterfall, nestled in the heart of the Rockies, where the landscape shifts between the natural and the human-made. Painted in the biting cold of -12°C, I worked quickly to preserve the scene before the light and temperature changed. The painting depicts the cascading waters of Grassy Falls, surrounded by frozen grasses and rocky terrain. Yet, what makes this piece unique is the addition of pen work, which brings the human presence into the landscape—communication poles and power lines stretch through the scene, quietly marking the intersection of nature and infrastructure.
While the pen lines represent the subtle imprints of human civilization, they also serve as a tool for capturing the contours, edges, and angles of the terrain itself. These lines add a structural dimension to the organic flow of the watercolor, emphasizing the sharp contrasts and inspiring geometry of the surrounding landscape. The quick, gestural pen strokes paired with the flowing, unpredictable watercolor create a dynamic tension, embodying both the tranquility of nature and the often unnoticed traces of human impact.
As with many of my plein air works from that month, “Grassy Falls” is a study in both speed and observation, painted in the moment and at the mercy of the weather. The harsh cold forced me to work with urgency, yet it also brought a certain clarity to my process, allowing me to capture the raw, unfiltered energy of the scene.
Additional Information:
Painted using Winsor & Newton watercolors and pen on 120 lb Cold Press watercolor paper by Archive.
The combination of watercolor and pen was used to explore the contrast between the organic and the man-made, adding depth and structure to the natural flow of the scene.
The quick brushwork and ink lines were executed in temperatures of -12°C, adding an extra layer of spontaneity and rawness to the work.
This is a unique, one-of-a-kind piece, offering a glimpse into the intersection of nature and the human presence in the Rockies.
Perfect for collectors who appreciate dynamic, mixed-media works that reflect the ever-changing relationship between the natural world and infrastructure.
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