Moon Rise Over LI Sound

Painting by Vicky Christensen, Acrylic on canvas, 12 X 16 inches

I had a hard time with this painting. I struggled with the reflections of the moon on the water. I think this might have been easier to do with pastels, but I am glad I challenged myself and painted it with acrylic paints. The inspiration was a photo from the Wet Canvas reference image library, http://www.wetcanvas.com/RefLib/showphoto.php?photo=152552.

Akaka Falls

Painting by Vicky Christensen, acrylic on canvas, 16 X 12 inches

If I am keeping count correctly, I have painted three waterfalls with pastels. Today's painting is the first time I have painted a waterfall with acrylic paints. Akaka Falls is in Akaka Falls State Park, on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island, Hawaii.

Akaka Falls plummets 442 feet and is a magnificent sight. I ended up cropping the photo quite a bit for "artistic" purposes. Below is my original photo. Perhaps someday I will buy a tall canvas and paint the entire falls.

Morning Sun Over the Lake

Painting by Vicky Christensen, acrylic on canvas, 16 X 12 inches

I was going to do a pastel painting today but changed my mind at the last minute. Today's painting was inspired by another photo I found in the Wet Canvas reference image library, http://www.wetcanvas.com/RefLib/showphoto.php?photo=42590. I amped up the color a little. And I ended up painting long grass in front of the boat and dock. I could say it was for artistic reasons, but to tell the truth, I had trouble painting the boat.

In some ways I think this looks more like a watercolor than acrylic on canvas. I kind of like the effect.