Dunes at St. Andrews State Park

Pastel on self-sanded Arches - 14x10

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After making a few very minor touches, I signed this piece and sprayed it with fixative. That is my way of saying "Il est fini!"

I am pleased with the way this worked, and if you read the previous posts, you can see it how the work progressed.

These dunes and the sugar-white sand of St. Andrews State Park with the jetties in the distance have been a continuing inspiration to me since I first saw them in 1967. I have drawn and painted them often before, but not with this kind of success!

rjp

Dunes at St Andrews SP WIP C

Pastel on Sanded Arches - 14x10

I have "completed" the basic picture, but I'm going to let it stand for a few hours before I put my name on it and call it "fini!"

This has been a good learning experience for me, a refresher course in soft pastels. Best of all, I am pleased with the result.

Dunes at St Andrews SP WIP B

As you can see, I have made some progress, but there is still a fair amount of work to do. I had hoped to finish this painting today, but there were a number of interruptions. I hope to finish tomorrow, but that may not be possible. I will need to attend the funeral of a friend, Jerry Davis.

Dunes at St. Andrews SP WIP

I am putting this up to show that I am working. This pastel 14x10 on self-sanded Arches paper is beginning to take shape nicely.

Remember that Morning

Oil on canvas - 24x18

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This is my second expression in oil of this view of the palm thickets and dunes at Cape San Blas, Florida. I have tried to capture the stillness and bright sunshine of mid morning. The view is looking from the boardwalk across the dunes to the Gulf.

The beach and dunes always interest me and present a particular challenge for painting. The foreground is defined in bright color and deep value contrasts while the distance is muted and soft with little variation in value. The bright sunlight, however, limits the amount of blue that works for creating distance in the painting.

My son my, father-in-law, and I have been here often to fish in the gulf, so this place has a special memories for me.

Rick Petersen

Dawn Patrol

Oil on Raymar canvas panel - 6x6

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A few days ago, I watched a man walking his black terrier on the beach. The man stopped to talk on his cell, but the terrier wanted to keep going. The sun was not yet up, but the dawn was reflected in golds and purples on the waves and wet sand. It is this scene that I have tried to capture in this painting.

Waiting for Dinner

Oil on Raymar canvas - 6x6

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I spend quite a bit of time at the beach, and the shore birds and the gulls always intrigue me with their patience. They stand motionless and watch the waves wash back and forth over their feet... waiting for that next morsel.

This painting was done from drawings and reference photographs. I have tried to capture the motion of the water with its waves and foam in contrast the the lone bird motionless and waiting.

Rick Petersen

Cape San Blas - Palm Thicket

Work in progress.

Latest post - August 18, 2010.

Pictures appear in reverse order - newest photo's first. I have not tried to balance the color in these photos.

I have not tried to correct the color for this shot. I put this up for my own benefit to track my progress.

I do invite comments!

This is a larger format - 24x18 - of my earlier work "Bright Morning."

Thru the Sea Oats

Oil on panel - 8x6

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This is a view of the Gulf of Mexico through the dunes and sea oats at Cape San Blas. This is one of my favorite spots. The beach is usually nearly deserted, the wind is always blowing, and in the bright sunlight, the colors are more intese against the sugar-white sand.

This is the second daily painting I've made of this view using drawings and reference photos. This one is much better than the first.