Botanical at the Locks

Last Saturday, I went out to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard, looking for something I'd like to paint. This was my first plein air outing of the year and the weather was beautiful and sunny. I set up my easel in a less-traveled part of the park and began to paint.

I've been experimenting with using palette knives for painting rather than brushes. For this trip, I decided not to bring a brush. This simplified things, because with palette knife painting I don't need solvents or medium. Just oil paint, knives, and a big roll of paper towels.

A few minutes into painting, and I was ecstatic. Feeling the fresh air, the sunshine, the smells of the garden, and the salt water mixing with the smell of oil paint. Delicious!

Here's what came out of that sunny morning outdoors (with a few additions back in the studio).

Julie Devine, Botanical, Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, 2012
Oil on Boad, 14" x 11"