Menton, France - Marina View

I intended to paint this view from the marina, but the heat was overwhelming. Instead, I sketched it on location and later used it as a Zoom demonstration from France for my Mentoring Group. The goal was to simplify the intricate puzzle of buildings and boats into beautiful shapes and while use expressive colors. Menton itself is painted in the refreshing hues of citrus fruits, and I wanted my watercolor to reflect that vibrancy—bursting with mingling fresh colors, dancing brushwork for the boats, and flowing wet-in-wet color for the distant mountains. I used masking fluid to save some of the whites and it gave me the freedom to let loose. It turned out to be my favorite painting from the entire trip.