Heart Lake Overcast | 11×14 | Oil on Linen Panel

Inspiration for Heart Lake Overcast

The same day I painted Heart Lake Incandescence, I also painted Heart Lake Overcast. As they day wore on, the weather continued foggy and cloudy (which always makes plein air a challenge). But the sun broke through occasionally to create beautiful dappled light effects on the sloping forests. I enjoy painting scenes like this because they offer a great variety of textures without having to worry about details. I’ll often switch from paintings of working boats (with their complex rigging or steel beams) to these nature scenes for a mental break.