Wet Sand and Wet Feet

 Acrylic on Canvas Panel, 8x10

On the warmer winter mornings, the sea gulls and a few hardy visitors brave the cool, wet sands to watch the sun come up.  The new day is forecast by the reds and lavenders in the clouds, and the gentle fall of the waves as the tide goes out.

Daily Painting, 2018 05 15

Pastel, Daily Painting, Double matted - 4x6

The idea for this small study is the openness of the beach late in the day with only a few visitors strolling while the sea gulls wait for the tide to come in.

These paintings will be available through my gallery - Georgia Nick Gallery in St. Augustine, or they may be purchased from me directly.  Please see my web site for details. Click here for details.

Waiting, not Waiting

Pastel, 9x12 on Wallis

As the tide comes in, the gulls often wait at the edge of the wave ready to grab any morsel of unwary fish that comes.  They seem almost made of stone until the moving tide encourages them take wing.  The sense of quiet and unhurried patience of the gulls belies the breaking waves only a few yards away.
The "original" that was posted yesterday bothered me - it was somehow incomplete. Decided to add the sanderling and change the title - now the picture tells a story.

First Light, Vilano Beach

Pastel, 9x12 on UArt 400

In the early morning as the light of day begins to grow, the reflected pink and golden clouds bath the wet sand and breaking waves with wonder.  A few gulls seem to question the presence of any who venture into their world of wonder.

Heading Out Again

Pastel on Multimedia Board, 9x12

When the tide comes in, the sea gulls take wing and head out past the breakers.  The surf is high, and the waves tumble over each other as they break.  The water turns green with the foam from the waves, and the sunlight paints the churning water with the delicate shades of blue, pink, and purple. 

My process with this painting was to paint the water first.  A similar painting had recently sold from Georgia Nick Gallery, and I used that painting as a starting point for this one.  

Check values with Black and White

When I had gotten a good start on the waves, I took a photo and printed it in black and white.  Doing that showed me that the bottom line of the main wave needed some variation and the foreground was a distraction.

Finalize the waves and water

After making those changes, I was satisfied with the water and wave.

Draw the gulls on a black and white print

In order to get the proportions of the gulls and their placement, I printed a copy of the painting in black and white.  This also gave me a final check on the values.

When adding the final touches to a painting like this, I try to make my final decisions on a copy of the painting.  I drew and erased the birds for quite some time until I was satisfied.  The result is displayed above. 

"Hop Forward 3 Spaces"

Pastel on UArt, 18x12

Honorable Mention - NFPS Member Show, Spring 2012

Unable to paint at the beach, I did the next best thing and painted from memory and reference photos.  I placed these three gulls in the wet sand just beyond the wave wash as they often do waiting for the tide to turn.  Usually one or more of them stands on one leg, but even then they seem to be about ready to fly.

The reflections in the wet sand and the early morning sun on the foam adds the sense of color and anticipation that the games of the day are about to begin.

"Taking Wing"

Pastel on gatorboard, 12x9

Done on commission

People seem to like my sea gulls, and I painted this by request.  The drama of the rolling surf in contrast to the easy, almost careless flight of the gulls is a never ending source of inspiration for me.

"Standing Tall" and "Come Fly with Me"

"Standing Tall"
Pastel on gatorboard - 8x10

This small painting was done from sketches and segments of a larger work - "October Colors" - done for the Color the Coast paint-out.  This assembly of palm trees in the distance a cross the marsh first caught my eye because some of the palms were much taller than the surrounding oaks and willows.  The morning sum peeked in and out of the clouds, and I wanted to catch the sunlight at that moment.

"Come Fly with Me"
Pastel on gator board - 12x9

It rained most of the day today, but I wanted to finish one more piece for the Color the Coast paint-out.  I had done an earlier work of the waves and sea gulls from the boardwalk at Jax pier.  Using my notes, drawings, and reference photos, I did this painting of three sea gulls taking flight across the surf.