field and creek

Sunday afternoon I found a hilltop east of town and spent a couple hours laying in thin brush strokes.


Warm sun, cool breeze out of the east, no traffic, what a view.
Water spritzer to keep my palette moist. Bug spray and sunscreen lotion all over.

There were many "tries" in this piece. Light blue streaks in the sky to make clouds. The back row of trees are done in blue to create distance. Thin layers of acrylic for the field. As I completed the work its title came to me. The next day I received an email telling me my cousin Anthony Bode had died. He was suffering from leukemia. He had lived in Arizona.

Anthony's Repose by Karl Marxhausen 9" x 12" acrylic on 140 lb watercolor paper
After packing up my easel and equipment I drove three miles home for a lunch break. That afternoon I returned to Ground Hog road, west of town,and set up beside a tiny creek with dust-laden leaves. I set up a couple of large orange safety cones along the road where I was painting. Drivers slowed down when they passed by. That gravel road seemed especially narrow.


From what I have seen Albert Bierstadt, Russell Smith and Alfred Bricher do, I am convinced there is more I can pack into my 12 x 9 format. You can see the elements I chose to describe in my two hours of work.

Creek Study by Karl Marxhausen 12" x 9" acrylic on 140 lb watercolor paperIf you would like to purchase either of these or wish to share your thoughts, leave me a comment below.