Desert Under Sea

I just worked on this painting some more. It's the first time I've posted something to this blog without being sure it was done. That's a lesson for me to sit on my hands a little before I put something out there for everyone to see.  Anyway, I've left the version 1.0 up, so you can see the contrast between it and the "final" product.  Maybe I'll do more and post a 3.0!

BTW, this is a perfect opportunity to introduce one of my favorite words to the world:  "Bonnarding." The French painter Bonnard had the honor of seeing his art hung in the Louvre during his lifetime. But he wasn't satisfied, ultimately, that the painting was truly finished, regardless of the opinion of the Louvre's curator.  He arranged a distraction for the guards, and "finished" his painting surreptitiously as it hung on the wall in the gallery.  So the act of (over)working a painting when it's already done is called Bonnarding.  I do this all the time!

Version 1.0:

Version 2.0 (new!) is below. Note the warmer colors, deeper values, and addition of more detail.  Plus better photo resolution.

This is the fifth in my Zion series, titled "Desert Under Sea." It's more abstracted and close-up than the previous paintings in this series. It depicts two elements of the high desert particularly special to me:  sagebrush and fossils.  The fossil shell represented is one that Frederick found on a stone lining the Rim Trail of the Grand Canyon's south side.
11x14 watercolor. $100.