Muskrat Love (Plein Air)

The Las Padillas acequia is a water source for agriculture in the South Valley of Albuquerque.  The name for this painting came from the fact that when I was painting this, a little Muskrat came swimming down the canal habitat having a morning swim.  There are many ancient acequia's in the old Rio Grande valley area of Albuquerque with old cottonwood trees and in the shadows of the Sandia mountains.  This painting was done in about 2 hours Plein Air in the south valley.  I painted very loosely and quickly and hence the painterly look of it, but I had fun painting quickly with thick paint and with a large brush.