"Gator on the Bank" by Brenda Hofreiter

This painting was created along the banks of Weikiva Springs in Altamonte, FL. I was attending a paint out there to benefit "The Friends of the Weikiva River". This painting was created in the late afternoon. I was attracted by the spots of dappled light that lit up the distant shoreline and the barely visible palms hiding in the myterious distance. I loved the way the water lillies and their misty reflections floated on the dark water in the afternoon light. The heron's windless white reflection on the water was the perfect focal point to the paintings triangular composition.

This painting was one of two freshly created paintings that got completely covered in dog fennel seeds inside it's protective wet painting carrier as I tromped through the fields at Wekiva State Park looking for another painting opportunity. It had to spend several days baking on the dashboard of my van until it was dry enough to scrape them off! I was able to fix the painting just in time for the opening reception and it seemed none the worse for the wear. I put this story in to give you an insider's view of the life of a plein air painter! It's never as easy as it looks!