Parke County Covered Bridge

While I’m in watercolor mode, here’s another.  This one is from a photo I took out in Parke County Indiana, the covered bridge capitol of the world. We were there in late October when there was very little foliage left on the trees.

Those of you who subscribe to Bound and Lettered might remember seeing it there in an article I wrote about using masking fluids.  The white portions of the bridge, the rocks and some of the larger areas of white on the trees were masked. After it was removed from the bridge, the grey tones and lettering were added.

 

Clicking on the graphic it will open a larger copy in a new window where you can see more detail. The rocks and under the bridge have a slightly shiny take to them where I used brushed gum arabic to create a wet look. The white areas of the trees are sgraffito.  I removed the color with a fritch scrub brush and an exacto knife.

Watercolor Inspiration

I enjoy painting with watercolor.  The transparency allows for color mixing and blending unlike either oils or acrylics.  I try to have a camera handy when we travel and keep a digital file of reference photos.

This watercolor is loosely based on a photograph of a bridge in the Blue Ridge mountains near Roaring Gap, NC.  The aging stonework offered such an array of earthtones balanced against the trees and sky.

Click on the thumbnail for more detail.