First Rays

Pastel, 9x12 on UArt

The idea and inspiration of this piece was the way that early morning sun kisses the tops of the dunes and paints the tallest grass with golden light. The air and the sand are still calm and cool, blue, and quiet, but the sun makes the promise of a bright, hot day ahead.

This painting is a rework of a previous piece, "Path 6."  I liked the first painting, but it had no clear central idea or focus, so I started reworking it.  I raised the horizon because everyone knows where the beach and surf lie.  I reworked the composition and cranked up the values and contrasts in color and temperature.  The more I worked it the less remained of the original painting - in fact the sky is the only element that seems to have survived, and that got a little more color.

Reaching

Pastel, 16x16

In the early morning, the rising clouds seem to reach across the sky stretching toward the rising sun.  The stillness and seamless reflections at low tide dramatize the broken, ragged clouds.

This painting is available click here: Web Page - Reaching

Daybreak

Pastel 20x24 on UArt

The showers of the night are passing and the dark clouds begin to scatter.  Just before the sun breaches the horizon, the clouds cast their soft colors in glorious reflections on the broad, wet sand.

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.

Storm Break

Pastel, 12x18 on UArt

This sunrise view of Jacksonville Beach was inspired by the breaking cloud of a passing winter storm front.  The wind is up, mist shrouds the distant shore, and the surf is till choppy.  At this moment, the sun has broken through to paint a streak of the beach with color an promise.  
I used mostly Terry Ludwig pastels for this painting.

Breaking Day

Pastel, 6x9 on UArt

Number 08 of '21 in 21' Karen Margulis challenge

For this study, I combined elements of several photos with a little imagination and license.  I wanted to capture the fleeting moment when the sun breaks through the morning clouds and paints one golden streak across the beach.