"October At Rock Creek" 24x18 Oil

I often hear there's nothing that can replace the importance of painting from life and that nature is a painters best teacher. I couldn't agree more. I say this because I was struggling with this painting when I was only using a reference photograph to paint from. When I was up in the High Sierras last October, I painted a small 8x10 study of this scene. It was my hope that I would learn to see the elements that were missing in the larger studio painting. Combining the experience of being there, along with the small 8x10 plein air study and a reference photo, I was finally able to complete this piece.

Update: This painting was selected for the Salon International 2012 Exhibition.