Rainbows in the Lehigh Valley Gorge

[TMo]

Tom,

   If I can provide some source of inspiration, it's a good day.  My scenic guidelines:

1)  Try something.  The worst that can happen is that you toss it or paint over it and start over.

1A)  Don't assume you have to be Van Gogh.  Reread guideline #1....

2)  Nature is random.  (In other words, just about anything is possible).  A beer while you work on an organic scenery project can be highly influential because you care less and your subconscious can take over (I swear that's where artistic talents (if they exist) are buried).

3)  Nothing in nature is uniform.  (There are many shades of green and every shade is represented in just about any tree, shrub or plant.  Take a look at a mountain - from a long way away the colors are fairly uniform, but as you get closer to it, there are all kinds of different trees with different shapes and different colors).  Caring less while you have that beer is going to be beneficial in an environment with few rules.

4)  Anything made by man is not random and tends toward uniformity.  A beer while you work on something manmade (a structure, vehicle, or a model) is discouraged because you have to care more.

5)  Take frequent breaks and look at your project from a different perspective as you work (view it from a different angle, a different distance, different lighting).

6)  Have a plan, but keep it loose.  Sometimes your best ideas are inspired while you work.

Slathered some paint tonight as a base coat for the edge scenery on the Black Creek/Hazleton section of the layout.  Getting into that home stretch on this section feels pretty good.