Mitta Mitta Fisha

Watercolour on Arches paper. 
Painting size: 620mm x 420mm, 
Frame size: 835mm x 635mm.

This painting was created after stopping at a reserve on the Mitta Mitta River, downstream from Eskdale, Victoria.  The reserve is on the north side of the Omeo Highway and just upstream from Tallandoon, Victoria.

When I saw the mass of pebbles on the bank of the river, I recalled a video I saw many years ago, where the Artist demonstrated how to paint a pebbly beach with watercolour. The video was an English seaside beach but I could see how I could apply the technique to a painting of this river reserve.  That was it, I was excited by the idea and had to try this interesting technique.

I took a several photos both upstream and downstream and, when I got home, I found the video.   After watching the video and making notes on the steps and procedures, I stretched some watercolour paper and was ready to start painting.

I took a deep breath and started painting.  It was an interesting procedure.  The most time consuming part of the painting was waiting for the different layers of masking fluid and watercolour washes to dry.

Due to the eagerness to see how this would turn out, I painted the pebbles first and couldn't wait to remove the masking fluid to see how it turned out,... It was a SUCCESS !!

Because it worked so well, I had to complete the rest of the painting by painting the sky, the background, middle distance, the far bank and the water in the river.  Then I started to bring the pebbles into focus by painting their shadows.

I was asked by several people to demonstrate the procedure, so that resulted in a second, smaller painting showing an upstream view.  That painting was donated to the Arts Craft and Activities Group Inc. who hold classes at the Mirambeena Community Centre, Lavington, NSW, as one of the prizes for their fund raising raffle in November 2022.

I also have a similar painting looking upstream from this location.  CLICK HERE to see that painting.        

This painting has a Certificate of Authenticity attached to the back of the painting as proof
this is my genuine, original 'one-of-a-kind' artwork.