Sunday, February 25, 2007

Bethlehem Waterworks

Bethlehem Waterworks
watercolor on paper
10.5" x 14"
copyright 2007 Stacy L. Rowan
I love the sun. I mean I really love the sun. When it's sunny, I feel energetic and happy. When it's gray and cloudy, I feel gloomy and tired and I want to hibernate.

The day I started this painting it was very sunny - not partly sunny or mostly sunny, but completely and wonderfully sunny. So even though it was one of the coldest days of winter, I ignored my treadmill and decided to walk outside instead. Of course, before heading out I had to bundle up, because even though I am a fan of the sun, I'm not crazy about the cold. Once I had on enough layers to be twice my normal size I was ready to go. It was great! There is nothing like a walk outside on a sunny winter day after being cooped up for weeks.

The sun is also what attracted me to this shot of the Waterworks in Bethlehem's Colonial Industrial Quarter. I love the contrast between the sunny side and the shadow side of the Waterworks building. I also really like the highlights on the white branches of the sycamore tree and the sunny yellow edges on the pine branches. All of this brightness is perfectly set off against the shadowed side of the concrete overpass and the dark undergrowth on the hill.

I've been thinking about painting some of the historic Moravian buildings for awhile, but this is the first reference that really spoke to me. I have the sun to thank for that.

If you are interested, you can find out more information on the Colonial Industrial Quarter here.


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awesome painting -- It reminds me of some of the wonderful weekends we have spent trowling around Bethlehem. I can feel the sun on my face right now!!

I love you!

David

Regula Scheifele said...

That's looking really good Stacy - I'm impressed by the detail you achieved with watercolours and the light / shade works beautifully!

take care,
Amira

M J Muir said...

Stacy I LOVE this painting. Especially the light on the trees. Wonderful work. You are definitely on a roll. I like your style very much. What a gift you have.
Your blog is a place I like to check out these days for inspiration.
Cheers!
Mary Jane

Mary said...

Stacy this is very charming. it reminds of the painting of a very famous painter and I am going to have to look him up. I love this!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Wonderful trees, Stacy! Just lovely. I'm finding trees very difficult in watercolour, I'm particularly impressed with that one on the left - so much detail and so realistic. Brava.

Stacy said...

Thanks David! You know how much I love this town and you!

Amira, I am glad the light and shade works! I was really trying on focus on that.

Thanks Mary Jane! I like your style too. It always looks effortless to me, which is far different than mine feels! lol

Mary, if you get a chance, let me know who the painter is. I'd love to check out his/her work.

Robyn, thank you! Trees always give me a challenge. It is the random nature of them that I find hard to capture. I'm glad you think I was successful here.