Painting in studio (working from photograph taken on Thanksgiving 2005 of the large slough just north of the Jay Martin homestead in Madison, SD)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

South Dakota sloughs in late November are captivating.  The migrating waterfowl of autumn are gone, but they still maintain an aura of life and mystery.  The sloughs twist and turn with the lay of the land.  The slough vegetation (reeds) turns a glorious gold color.  The air is crisp, fresh, and the coldest cold you'll know. 

INSPIRATION:

My goal for this painting was to capture the feel of a frozen South Dakota slough.  In particular, I wanted to depict the heavy autumn sky, the winding nature of the slough, and the vibrant gold of the slough vegetation in late autumn. 

The Frozen Slough Watercolor 15X22