Be like water, my friend

Eaton Canyon Natural Area, Pasadena, CA

Two-and-a-half hours. I walked around Eaton Canyon for a half-hour until I found what I was looking for - a tree above a stream - as I wanted to take on the challenge of painting moving water and reflections. I'm still trying to understand why there's such a stark contrast between the warm part of the stream in front of me and the cooler section behind it. I know it has to do with the way the light is reaching my eye, but I can't figure it out exactly. Anyway, it looked really cool. I'll have to sit down and study Sargent and Zorn's watercolors for a better way to apply these colors - those guys are virtuosos in this medium.