Stillness on the Tomoka, Oil Painting of Old Florida by Judy Batterson

On the east coast of Florida, the Tomoka River is a pristine wilderness that has not changed. I was asked to capture this in a painting by a friend who grew up on the Tomoka. I did site visits, sketches and took photos of this beautiful river. There was such a sense of peace with the gentle flow of the river. Some areas had dense areas of mangroves, palms and underbrush. Other mangrove clumps opened up to the sky, allowing sunlight to reflect off of the water. A white egret stood out against the darker water while other birds flew overhead. This river is "old Florida" appreciated by nature lovers everywhere. Original oil on canvas 24"H x 36"W.

Stillness On The Tomoka, Florida Oil Landscape of Palms, River, Egret by Judy Batterson

On the Florida east coast, the Tomoka River is a pristine wilderness river. I was asked by a friend who grew up there to capture this in a painting . I did site visits, sketches and took photos. There was such a sense of peace with the gentle flow of the river. Some areas had dense mangroves, palms and underbrush. Other mangroves opened up to the sky, allowing sunlight to reflect off of the water. A white egret stood out against the dark water while birds flew overhead. This river is "old Florida" appreciated by nature lovers everywhere. The commissioned 24 x 36" original oil is sold, but giclees are available ($425).

Egret and Lily Pads, a Tropical Oil Landscape by Judy Batterson

I was standing next to this pond when suddenly a large white egret swooped down and landed in the water. The egret ignored me and went about the business of catching fish and eating them. I took as many photos as I could while the bird was occupied with fishing! The setting and lighting were perfect. The dark water was a perfect contrast for the white bird. The lily pads added an impressionistic touch. It was a Florida moment meant to be painted. The bright colors add a whimsical touch. 16 x 20 Original Oil on canvas $1200 wwwljudybatterson.com

Stillness On The Tomoka, Florida Oil Landscape of Palms, River, Egret by Judy Batterson in a painting sequence.

The finished painting!! This is the sixth photo in a sequence of a painting of the Tomoka River. It is now complete with the foreground of an egret and large trees. The highlights of the palms are finished as well as the birds flying in the distance. The river twists and turns among the mangroves with the sun reflecting in the water. This is natural, untouched "old Florida". For more Florida oil landscapes, go to www.judybatterson.com.

Stillness On The Tomoka, Florida Oil Landscape of Palms, River, Egret by Judy Batterson in a painting sequence.

This photo is the fourth one in a sequence of a painting of the Tomoka River. After starting with the background, now the foreground and underbrush along the riverbanks are painted using a stiff bristle brush to achieve the effect of foliage. These dark areas form the shadows before the highlights are painted in. For more Florida landscapes, go to www.judybatterson.com

Stillness On The Tomoka, Florida Oil Landscape of Palms, River, Egret by Judy Batterson in a painting sequence.

This is the first step in a commission painting of the Tomoka River which is near Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. I went to Tomoka State Park to view the river and take many photos from all accessible parts of the river. There is such a tranquility there, and yet it is so close to a populated area. I took my photos and sketches back to the studio to start a composition. This photo shows my first step in laying out the composition. For more Florida oil landscapes, visit my website at www.judybatterson.com.