'Water Lover' oil on canvas 24 x 30

Sunday, December 12, 2010

'The Potholes'

One day at the end of October this year I went
on a plein air adventure with fellow artist
It had been at least 10 years since either of us had
been to a beloved (now protected) part of the
Sooke River know as the Sooke Potholes.
This treasure of the south Island is a salmon
spawning river and they where present in the
water as we painted. This mystical geological
wonder lies in a deep canyon with sides eventually
reaching over a thousand feet in some places.
During the wet seasons the water roars and
tumbles through the contorted rock formations
that tend to make you weak in the knees as you
gaze down from your cliff side perch at the
turbulence 50 feet below. The spot we
painted however is at the lower and quieter end
of the run. During the heat of summer it is
a well used 'swimmin' hole'!
We started to paint during a sunny break on this
somewhat wet day but just as we got into it
the sun left us and because of the steep sides
of the canyon it became quite dull and dark.
It was a challenge to see the subtle values
to say the least.
The main rock formation in this piece towers
30 or more feet above the pool below, just to give
you an idea of scale.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oil on wood panel 
10 x 8.
Your thoughts and comments
greatly appreciated!
Jeffrey

9 comments:

Jeffrey J. Boron said...

Thanks Prabha, it is a wonderful place!

Jeffrey

Melinda said...

I really like this painting, Jeffrey. It has such great values and contrast. It's a wow, for sure!

I'm glad you two had a good day en plein air.

Now, it seems you are getting rain. Do you paint when it rains?

Bruce Sherman said...

Hi again Jeffrey.... "You" have certainly capture the serenity and quiet that have always made this place sacred ... and special throughout the ages!

Love the water movement... and your use of the trails of foam... left after their fall further upstream. Colour and values look great to me... testimony to many years of experience and firsthand "seeing"...eh Jeffrey?

Good Painting!...Happy Holidays!
Warmest regards,
Bruce

PS Handed over the Golden Spruce "idea" to Mrs Santa... thanks for the recommend!Looks interesting and full of intrigue!

Jeffrey J. Boron said...

Thanks Melinda...we had a wonderful day...as for painting in the rain, not intentionally =;-))

Jeffrey

Jeffrey J. Boron said...

Thanks Bruce...I think you will really enjoy the 'Golden Spruce' it is an amazing book!

Jeffrey

Linny D. Vine said...

You're absoulutely right, Jeffrey, the drastic changes in light on that day did make for a challenge but it doesn't show in your painting. It's a beautifulwee treasure!

Ron Wilson said...

'Cheakamus September' - love the movement you got Jeffrey!

Jeffrey J. Boron said...

Thanks Linny...it was a grand day painting with you...ho and I forgot to mention the bats flying around in the afternoon it got so dark!

Jeffrey

Jeffrey J. Boron said...

Thanks Ron...it was really moving and roaring!

Jeffrey