Quail Hollow Pond - Nov. 2010

by Sue
(Santa Cruz, California)

My first entry for the Monthly Painting Challenge - this project pushed me to go out and paint the day after Thanksgiving when I might otherwise have sat and read a book!

My selected site for each month's painting is a local park called Quail Hollow in Felton, California. The pond there is home to a number of Western turtles and lots of water birds - ducks, egrets and great blue herons.

The weather was good if a bit cold - there were still some leaves on the trees - the pond surface very dark and moody looking.

I did a 5" x 7" panel - small size - and did it quickly as is recommended - used big brushes. It felt great to be out painting again after several weeks of not going out.

After my painting session I took a hike up the mountain to work off some turkey feast from the day before - encountered a young girl riding a beautiful black horse on the way back down the mountain.

I look forward to painting in this spot again at the end of December.