Painting the Road to Mount Baker

The light across the tarmac on Route 542 was the first thing that caught my eye. When you paint a wide highway like this, the trick is to not make it look like a big flat grey shape. I used a lot of Ultramarine Blue and a touch of Neutral Tint to get those deep, cool shadows on the road surface. By leaving some gaps in the wash, I could show the white road markings without needing to add them later with thick paint. It helps to keep the movement of the cars feeling real as they head towards the mountains.

On the left side of the road, there is a large industrial building that stands out against the soft hills. I wanted to show the hard edges of the man-made structure against the natural curves of the landscape. I used some Yellow Ochre and Burnt Sienna for the warmer bits of the building and the dry grass nearby. The tall poles for the traffic lights create a nice horizontal line that cuts across the sky, which helps lead your eye into the distance.

People often ask me how to paint a sky that looks bright but not empty. I used a very pale wash of Cerulean Blue at the top and let it fade into a warm, light yellow near the horizon. This creates a sense of early morning glow. The mountains in the back are just simple shapes of Cobalt Blue and a bit of Lavender. If you make the distant hills too dark, they will come forward and ruin the feeling of space in your painting.

I kept the cars quite simple by using white paint for the highlights on their roofs. A few dabs of Cadmium Red for the brake lights make them pop against the dark road. It is a scene of everyday life but the watercolor makes it feel special. This original painting is currently for sale. If you would like to own this piece or want more details about the size and price, please contact me for more information.