This oil on canvas painting was completed in the open air. It is the sixth painting in a series that I have called "Island Life on the Saluda." In this series I have been focusing on these tiny islands that form from sandbars in the Saluda River, near Ware Shoals, SC. Among the many things that I find interesting is the visual shapes and layering dimensions that these islands add to the natural scene. My painting style is somewhat impressionistic, but not completely. A very vivid underpainting is applied followed by darks to help establish the composition which is always subject to change. The vivid colors of the underpainting work to bring life to the surface colors. The variety of brush strokes, movement in colors allows for depth to emerge as the painting progresses. The finished painting tends to have a photographic look to it when viewed from a distance.