White fright!

After a very tentative start, staring at the pristine white paper, I am happy with my watercolour painting of the misty gullies in the deep silent valleys of Doubtful Sound in Fiordland.

Lots of water and paint.

It was hard changing from very detailed watercolour paintings of characters where the background had to play second fiddle to the details of body positions, expressions and a strong composition. But I soon found my favourite habit of lots of random droplets of water ready for blobs of colour. Then watch the magic happen.

How to paint the still waters of the Sound?

This really was nerve racking as I rarely paint water and it’s such a distinctive element of the whole Fiordland / Doubtful Sound experience. It is rarely ruffled but the boat’s quiet passage throws up wonderful fans of ripples that spread till the hit the rock walls and then track off at 90 degrees. The water is a deep, deep green.

After many diversions I laid brush to paper and held my breath.

Oh it doesn’t look too bad.

Breathe again Barbara before you fall over .

What do you think?