Surf in Dawn Colors

 Surf in Dawn Colors, 6x6 Pastel

I am always intrigued by the silver and lavender of the early morning surf on the beach.  A few gulls have joined the party looking for breakfast in the 

Sunrise Marsh

Pastel, 6x9 on UArt

I made this composition from a composite of other paintings of these palm trees and the marsh.  The sun is just above the horizon, and the mist is beginning to rise.  This time of day and this view of the marsh are infused with expectation for the day ahead.

First Visitors, pastel 12x18, beach scene, sunrise, after rain

First Visitors

Pastel, 12x18 on UArt sanded paper

The rain has passed, and the sun is coming up painting the sky and water with vivid colors. The first visitors on the beach are rewarded with a special display of color and the pristine surface of the sand.  Even the seagulls are content to wait and enjoy the beauty of the dawn.

Refining the Idea

Mayo Reprise - 18x12

Sun Streaks - 9x6

Twin Groves - 9x6

Project for the New Year - Refining the Idea

I started with the original painting Mayo Reprise which I had done a few years ago. It was a nice painting, but it seemed to lack a something. I did not find in it a central idea, but many competing elements. At the suggestion of my friend and mentor, Lyn Asselta, I undertook to pull from the old painting the ideas I could explore and do a smaller painting to explore those ideas

These are the first two results.

Sun Streaks - I took as my idea the steaks of light from the broken clouds. In order to emphasize those streaks of light, I eliminated much of the detail of the painting and darkened the sky to support the idea of broken clouds and strong shadows. I punched the colors for emphasis.

Twin Groves - the two clumps of trees standing together but still separate has intrigued me for some time. In order to emphasize the trees, I changed their placement above the underbrush and reduced the definition in the trees and and marsh. I moved the shoreline back to provide space for reasonable and believable reflections. Colors and values were punched while reducing edges and definition.