Tonal Series

Stillness
oil on panel, 7x5

I've started a series of tonal paintings.  By tonal, I mean scenes with soft, subtle light, preferably early morning or late in the day, and muted colors.  This was a quick, plein air study of a marsh on a grey day.  I am amazed at how the colors in water change as it reflects the sky above.  My last few plein air sessions have been focused on water and trees.  In this painting, I barely suggested the background trees and treated them as a simple shape.  I also used some textural effects instead of a more literal representation, in order to express the quiet mood of the marsh.