Sparkling Gems, pastel on Strathmore charcoal. pastel paper, 12 x 16 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Sparkling Gems, #30in30 Day 12

Sparkling Gems, pastel on Strathmore charcoal. pastel paper, 12 x 16 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Sparkling Gems, pastel on Strathmore charcoal. pastel paper, 12 x 16 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

I am participating in Leslie Saeta’s annual “30 in 30” painting challenge this month. This is my painting for day 12.

I have no idea why I chose to tackle this one today, except that after working on the water in yesterday’s little painting of a gull, the visualization I’ve had to do this painting for the past five years just took over my visual thoughts.

The reference photo was taken on a bright January day with lots of snow cover, and the mallards floating on Chartiers Creek where it flows under Main Street on my walk to the bank and post office. The water is shallow there, and with the noonday sun shining right down on it with no shade from trees, the water is filled with light as well as the sky reflecting down onto the surface and light reflecting in various shapes and colors onto every little ripple. It was beautiful to look at, but darned complicated to piece together the interaction of light in the water and on the water and reflections on the surface. I was determined to keep it loose because I didn’t want to contain the movement of the water with unmoving edges.

I named it “Sparkling Gems” because the water is so sparkling and clear like aquamarine, emerald, jade, peridot, tourmaline, malachite, turquoise, while the mallards are like the deeper gems, ruby, garnet, sapphire, lapis, adventurine, agate, and all so beautiful after a few days of cold and snow.

This painting took me longer than a daily painting usually does, but I’m glad I spent the time. I’m also glad I had the time to spend on it.

Purchase the original art or a print

[ss_product id=’65ca841e-d9fc-11e6-a7f5-002590787d08′ ]Waterscape, “Gems”[/ss_product]

Other items with the same art or design To find all items on this site with the same art or design, use the search box for the name of the artwork and you'll find all that's available.

Flourish-darkgray-100Don’t miss any new items or opportunities!

“Follow” the Portraits of Animals blog with the link in the upper left. Sign up to receive posts in email, or in your favorite reader using the links in the right-hand column.

Sign up for e-newsletters

You can also sign up for my monthly e-newsletters to receive special discounts and find out where I’ll be with my artwork.

Click here for the Creative Cat Preview E-newsletter, for feline and animal-specific products and information.

Click here for the Art & Merchandise E-newsletter, for landscapes, nature, urban scenes and more.

For art, photos and writing as I develop it, visit my blogs.

See feline art and photos as they happen on The Creative Cat, along with feline news, health, welfare, rescue stories and more.

See daily photos as I post them on Today.

Read poetry, short stories, essays and more on Paths I Have Walked.

. . . . . . .

© 2022 | www.PortraitsOfAnimals.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski

All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit “purchasing” for availability and terms.

Leave a Reply