Color versus Black&White

They say the watercolors are all about water and colors so I painted this Autumn woodland with water and all colors of the rainbow. The scene is a place from my imagination. 

I like vibrant colors - they make me happy. On the other hand I can feel that this picture is too colorful and because of that not real. What is the point of painting real images? We can see them all around. Lately I'm asking myself a question which road should I go - realism or abstract? Is it possible to jump back and forth these two roads? 

Immediately after paining "crazy colors" I have to draw black & white. Simple drawings calm my state of being. It is right what they say about "art" that it is all about emotions. 

Frosty Birches

I think my little kitty is buying this one.
This simple watercolor sketch was done with two colors only. Ultramarine blue and yellow ocher. 

Wintry Creek

Today in Maryland we had a beautiful, warm and sunny Saturday. I went hiking in Gunpowder State Park. There was a lot of ice and snow on north side of the mountains, but on the sunny side all snow was gone making the trails muddy and slippery. So my family and I went off the impassible trail and trekked through the woods. We climbed the hill and sat up high on the rocks and looked down at the river below.

My watercolor painting keeps me in a wintry mood. The warm colors of the sunrise indicate the meltdown of snow.  Old, brown grass will soon turn green and the first flowers will bloom. I'm ready for new season.