This is water rushing through the gorge after cascading down Niagara Falls, it is called the lower river, but still too rocky & rough for boats yet. If you have looked around my studio, then you may have seen a similar painting behind the door. Several years ago, as a new plein air painter, I went to Whirlpool State Park, leaned on the gorge rail & completed an afternoon view of the bridge and lower rapids. The Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters, hosted by painter Carol Mathewson of Youngstown met at the park this month, so I chose the same composition. Comparing the two paintings, it is not evident that they were painted a few years apart, instead, it becomes obvious that they were done at different times of the day. This is a morning painting, while the other was made in the afternoon, reversing all the lights & shadows!
The difference that I notice is I can now attack a composition, lay in local colors confidently & block in shapes to start faster. This is definitely a result of practical experience, many days have been lost to changing light & capricious weather. The 2nd difference is the view-lots of vines & shrubs have grown into the public viewing area. I admit to having pulled aside several yards of Virginia Creeper in order to see the gorge-and I was standing along the viewing rail.
Whirlpool Bridge from Whirlpool pastel 18x12
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