When I painted Forest Waterfall, I wanted to create the feeling of hearing running water before seeing where it was coming from.
I imagined walking through a dense forest filled with deep greens, teals, and blues, then discovering a series of small waterfalls hidden among the rocks and foliage. I wanted the water to guide the viewer through the painting and make the landscape feel deeper than the space visible on the canvas.
The waterfalls became the main structure of the scene. I kept the tiers fairly simple so the movement of the water would remain clear. Each fall leads into another pool or stream, creating a natural path from the upper forest toward the foreground.
I used cooler blue and turquoise colors throughout the water, then added lighter highlights where it tumbles over the rocks. The brightest marks were saved for the falling water, foam, and small areas catching the most light.
The surrounding forest was built with large foliage masses rather than painting every individual leaf. I wanted the greenery to feel thick and layered without taking attention away from the waterfalls.
Moss-covered rocks helped connect the water to the landscape. I varied the stone colors and added green along selected surfaces so the rocks would feel damp, old, and naturally settled into the forest.
I also included small glowing accents throughout the scene. They are subtle, but they give the woodland a magical quality and suggest that this is not an ordinary waterfall hidden in an ordinary forest.
The mushrooms near the corner are a small detail, but they help make the scene feel like part of the fantasy world I continue to create. I enjoy placing mushrooms in unexpected areas because they bring a little personality and wonder into the landscape.
What I like most about Forest Waterfall is the combination of movement and calm. The water is constantly flowing, but the forest surrounding it feels still and protected.
The painting is mostly made from greens, teals, and blues, which are colors I naturally return to in my artwork. They help me create places that feel peaceful, mysterious, and slightly removed from everyday life.
This original 8 × 10 gouache painting became GS-0028 in my permanent Gale’s Art Studio inventory.
My hope is that the painting gives its viewer the feeling of discovering a hidden waterfall beneath the trees—a place filled with cool water, mossy stone, and quiet woodland magic.
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