“Mountain Stream no. 2”- transparent watercolours on Saunders Waterford cold pressed cotton paper 300 g/mp, 26×36 cm. 2023
This painting has won the Talent Prize Award in the “9th LANDSCAPE” international juried art competition, on Teravarna website, in March 2024.
This painting is featured in the 54th issue of “The Art of Watercolour” magazine.
Description
This watercolor painting depicts a sunlit forest stream flowing gently through a lush, green forest in Romania’s Retezat mountains. The composition highlights the contrast between the lively movement of water in the foreground and the calm stillness of the trees and foliage in the background. The stream dominates the lower portion of the painting, rendered with energetic brushstrokes in shades of gray, blue, and the white of the paper, saved with masking fluid. I used broken, irregular strokes and lifting techniques to capture the sparkle of sunlight on the rippling surface. Darker washes beneath the water suggest submerged rocks, while lighter highlights convey the froth and shimmer of the current. The banks of the stream are painted with layered greens and earthy browns, using stippling and dry brush to suggest grasses, moss, and low vegetation. Small clusters of stones on the right side are defined with darker washes, anchoring the composition and adding texture. The trees in the midground rise vertically, their trunks painted with controlled, fine strokes in muted browns and grays. The foliage is created with overlapping washes of green, ranging from deep, shadowed tones to bright, sunlit hues. Wet-on-wet blending softens the transitions, while dappled highlights suggest sunlight filtering through the canopy. The background glows with a soft, luminous wash of yellow and pale green, evoking sunlight breaking through the forest. This atmospheric effect is achieved with transparent washes that gradually fade upward, creating depth and a sense of distance. The technique combines wet-on-wet washes for atmospheric light, dry brush for grasses and textures, stippling for foliage, and broken strokes for the water’s movement. The interplay of fluid washes and sharp details creates a balance between motion and stillness.
After purchasing you will receive the painting rolled in a cardboard tube, so that it will not be affected during shipping. No frame is included.
DUE TO THE DIFFERENCES IN MONITOR SETTINGS, COLOR MAY SEEM DIFFERENT IN REALITY THAN ON SCREEN.
© Olivia Checiu / oliviacheciuart.com
Purchase of an artwork does not transfer copyright. I retain all reproduction, licensing, and digital rights. Please do not use my art for prints, merchandise, or digital products without authorization.
Mockups from:
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