Perhaps you think that you're seeing triplicate, but there actually are three versions of this painting taking form in my studio today. I'm investigating a question which often crops up as I develop a work- after laying in the rough shapes and values, I often liquify the pastel with mineral spirits, and brush the pigments about on the paper, creating a 'wash' for an underpainting. Sometimes I like the unity, and painterly feel which comes with this technique, and at other times I miss the sparkle of untouched paper which cannot be regained. With this painting, I was on the fence about whether a wash would add to or detract from the feeling of the water, so I created three versions to find out! The painting on the left was created on location (in 28 degree weather!), the middle is the second go, with blocking in but no wash. The third version, on the easel, will involve a wash technique. I'll post the results next week, and share what I learn!
