Oak Creek Canyon Arizona in Watercolour

Here is my new landscape of Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona. I loved the mix of rich greens, warm earth and bright water. I kept the shapes simple and aimed for strong light across the rocks and the stream. The distant pines are cool and soft, while the front bank is warmer and sharper for a sense of depth.

For colour I mixed spring green with yellow ochre for the bright foliage and dropped in a little viridian for cooler patches. My darks came from ultramarine with burnt umber. The warm rocks used burnt sienna touched with quinacridone gold, and I added small accents of alizarin crimson where the red canyon tones show through. Reflections in the water were a loose blend of cobalt blue, cerulean and the same earthy mixes so the creek felt clear and fresh.

I painted most of the trees wet in wet to keep soft edges, then used dry brush for sparkle on the stones. I saved a few bits of paper white for sun on the water and then added tiny marks with a small brush for twigs and grasses. A simple three value plan helped a lot. Big dark shapes for the trees, a middle value for the water, and light accents on the stones.

If painting a scene like this, try to vary the greens and let colours flow into each other in the reflections. Keep the banks broken and uneven so it looks natural. Then finish with a few calligraphic lines and a touch of white for highlights.