This is one of my big watercolours in progress. It is of an old root (surprise surprise!) up at Singing Sands, in the Bruce Peninsula National Park here on the Bruce Peninsula. I started the painting with a drawing in HB pencil, then poured the first 5 colours. This established the light and glow I wanted. I used Burnt Sienna, French Ultramarine, Permanent Rose, Raw Sienna and Cerulean Blue (all Winsor Newton Artists Quality Watercolour). When this is totally dry, I started to paint with a brush in the traditional manner. Im working with a lot of negative shapes, in the background and rocks which start to establish the form and composition. And I am working in layers.
I established the path of light too, the tree and light cast on the rocks, so it is a strong compositional element. Also anchors the painting to the edges. Ive been careful in my original drawing to anchor lines to the edges in the 2/3 golden mean proportions. 
Now I am working on layers of texture on the rocks, using dry brush, sponge, spatter and even rubbing the paint with my fingers. Once the texture is there, I can develop the dark lines and markings on the rocks.   
Next comes more detail and texture in the tree and old root. 
Will post another photo when it progresses. 
I am planning on sending this painting to the International Watercolour Exhibit at the National Museum of Watercolour in Mexico City, Mexico for the fall exhibit there. I will be one of 6 Canadian artists from the CSPWC to participate. So have a deadline to work to! Until next time... Lin

Last Thursday we had a special guest at life drawing at Santa Fe Gallery...Garry Hamilton who is the CSPWC Regional Director for Quebec. Garry stopped by my place on a vacation on the Bruce Peninsula and I invited him to join us. Garry works directly in watercolour over a loose ( and beautiful ) pencil sketch and made several small watercolour studies that evening. It was great to watch him work. I have posted one photo of his sketches.
Thenthe next day we decided to meet for some en plein air painting so I took Garry up to one of my favourite places to paint here on the peninsula - Halfway Log Dump. It is a magical place that I have painted several times. We had a successful day of painting and good weather. It was a real pleasure to spend time painting with such an accomplished watercolourist. I have posted a pic from Halfway Log Dump too. Dont be fooled by its name, it comes from the fact the loggers used to dump logs over the cliffs down to the shore for boats to pick up.