Kalamazoo River

There's a spot where 196 crosses the Kalamazoo river, right before it spills out into Lake Michigan. I've always appreciated that moment of the drive up to Grand Rapids, and a few weeks ago I finally figured out the right way to make a painting of the place. I took my cues from a few great paintings of the past with similar subject-matter. I've seen this particular motif quite a bit in nordic art from the last century. Something about all the fjords and rocky coastlines with little islands really begs for this treatment, I think. I love the cloud reflections in the water. And I'm really looking forward to figuring out the ripples in the water. Hopefully I don't mess this one up when I work to finish it next week.

-ZR