Church on the backwater

This scene from sketches and photos are of a scene on the backwaters of Kerala, India. The narrow bodies of water criss cross this area and are connected to the ocean. The smoke from the cooking near the little church and the red umbrellas drew my attention. I wanted hard edges for the buildings and trunks of the palm trees, but I wanted the smoke to engulf the objects behind it, so I painted that area and much of the vegetation with soft edges. They were getting ready for an afternoon wedding and feast. It was in a remote area, so for me it was a memory I wanted to keep, even though I live thousands of miles away.