Day four--2009 Hood River Plein Air Competition/Event

I met up with lots of painters today at Hollenbeck Park in Trout Lake, WA. It's a pretty place with many choices, but I got there and just wandered around aimlessly. That happens sometimes. All the other people seem very decisive ...but I scuffle about ...unable to land on anything. I decided to swing over to a lake in the Gifford Pinchot area. I started a water lily sketch but then quickly realized it was too ambitious for me today...it was getting late. I turned turn my attention to another part of the lake.  During the 2nd start it dawned on me that this was just about as complex a scene as the one I had abandoned! In the end I liked a lot about my painting ..but I heard the voices of my teachers (Eric, Mitch, Elio) all admonishing me that I didn't really establish a nice contrast anywhere...I used similar brushwork throughout (another drawback)...and I didn't really leave room for accents. It does have some successful areas--but it is not anything to write home to Mother about either. Sigh. I proved all my problems by checking it in grayscale. Well...it was a good day nevertheless and I am still glad I went to Trout Lake!
(Gifford Pinchot Lake oil on 8x10 canvas panel)