Morning in the Dunes

Morning in the Dunes

Acrylic on canvas panel 8x10

Behind the beach at Talbot Island, the dunes march away one behind the other.  No clear path through them can be seen.  In the early morning, the pink and gold colors of the sky push back the lavenders of the night. The dark cedars and scrub brush begin to awaken to the day.

Promise - the Process

Promise

Pastel 6x10 

This painting is the result of several changes and makeovers.  My original motive was to paint a morning sky before sunrise - a day that hold great promise.  

I thought this might be a good painting to show my iterative process.  The first stage took less that half and hour, which may have been the problem, but the rest stretched in short sessions over 3 or 4 days.

Stage 1

I originally conceived this painting as at 6x8 so I could use the left 2 inches to test the colors and values.  I wanted the scene to be across a salt marsh that would reflect the sky through breaks in the grass at high tide.  This iteration was too broken, too jumbled and too dark.  I thought a softer execution of the grass would help.

Stage 2

The softer grasses with fewer edges and breaks in texture was an improvement, but the scene had no natural point of interest, and it was still too broken.

Stage 3

I softened the grass some more and added lighter greens but still wanted to emphasize the reflections.  The problem was that there is still not focal point, and I had no inspiration or reason to paint a larger picture.

Stage 4

This was a big step - I erased the salt marsh and extended the painting to the full 10 inches.  The horizon is still too green, but I now have a direction. The reflections on the water were a big relief when the green that was the marsh did not bleed through.

Stage 5

In order to create an area of interest, I had to remove most of the marsh and add some distinction in the trees on the horizon.  I was more pleased with this composition and colors than what I started with, but it was still not satisfying.  The grass and trees are still to dark, too green, and do not fit the color scheme.

Stage 6

Worked on softening the edges in the trees and grass, but it still has no focal point and it's still too green.  I realized that I really needed a low horizon to emphasize the sky, but that means I have to turn the painting upside down!  

Stage 7

Aha!  That's it!  I rubbed out the last of the green and replaced it with purples and grays. The focal area on the right was a natural.  I touched up the yellow and the pink in the sky and water, and I removed the idea of salt marsh and left it as whatever you see there between the water and sky.  I added some touches of white to indicate a few emerging clouds to break up the blue and pink.

Added a few more touches and signed it.

Silver Water Marsh

Pastel on UArt 400

In the early morning before the wind comes up across the marsh, the water reflects the sky giving it a slivery sheen.  The broken, puffy clouds are the remnants of the morning fog, and hold the deep blue of the sky at bay for a few more minutes.  I wanted to capture that sense of stillness and silvery light by using cool greens and blues augmented with dashes of purple, red, and pink.  In order to keep the sense of stillness, I deliberately reduced the details in order to emphasize form and color.

Up and Over, Path 3

Pastel, 6x9 on UArt

This is another of my current path project series.
I have been often inspired by the memories of the old paths through the dunes to the beach.  Over the years, the dunes have moved, and boardwalks have been built, but the memories linger of those golden mornings with the sandy path lying pristine, clear of footprints, over the dunes leading to the expectations of the day.
To purchase this painting, please contact me.

Light Breezes

Pastel, 9x6 on UArt

The morning begins with calm and quiet.  A soft breeze hardly ripples the water in the bay.  The clouds are rising in tatters, but they will return when the sea breeze begins.

Dune Morning

Pastel, 12x16

This old path between the dunes leading to the beach has always inspired me.  The softness of the warm sand, the gentle green of the shrubs and sea oats, the beach all to yourself, and endless horizon over the water - what more would you want?

You can purchase this painting by clicking here. "Dune Morning"

Beginning

Pastel, 12x16 on UArt

As the tide starts to move and the sunlight and heat start to rise, the day begins on the estuary.  My goal is to capture the sense of stillness, cool colors, and wide vistas on the marsh as the tide begins to return and the heat of the day rises.

Painting is available, unframed, $500. To purchase, please click here.

Leeward

Pastel, 9x12

This view of the dunes looks toward the beach from the leeward side.  My goal is to capture the freshness of the color and atmosphere in the early morning before the heat of the day, the wind, and the people move in.

Morning Reverie

Pastel, 9x12 on UArt

As the morning fog rises from the pond and reveals the colors and forms of the trees and grasses, I find myself drawn to remember and reflect on all that is good and peaceful.
Looking back over 2016, I set for myself the challenge to select my one favorite painting for the year and describe why it’s my favorite.
“Morning Reverie” 9x12, is my choice for the following reasons:
1. It represents a scene I love and to which I had a distinctly visual and emotional reaction.
2. Painting it forced me to make design and color choices based on values, temperature, and form rather than old habits of color and perceptions.
3. The result communicates a feeling about a time and place rather than a picture of a location.

Standing Alone

Pastel, 12x9 on UArt

Using the view of a pond near my home as my inspiration, this is an impression of a singular pine that dominates the corner.  In the early morning, it stands apart from the rest of the trees showing its colors with pride.

Palms in the Morning

Pastel, 9x12 on UArt

I am always inspired by views of the salt marsh in the early morning.  The gold and pink of the sky washes the grass with color and paints reflections in the water.

Pine, First Light

Pastel, 12x9 - Timed Study

For this view of a pine tree that stands alone on the pond, I selected the view in the early morning as the first rays of sun light begin to paint the trees.  The foreground is in bright light, but the distance still lies in mist and shadows.
This was done as a timed exercise - 20 pieces of pastel for 40 minutes.  When the timer went off, I stopped.  I think it works for this piece. 
To purchase this painting, click on the link "Pine, First Light"

Pine on the Pond

Pastel - Plein Air, UArt 9x6

This small pond is guarded by a number of tall, stately pine trees.  This specific tree  stands apart and it caught my attention as it stood in the hazy morning sun at the corner of the pond.  The wind from the north ruffled the water and muted the reflections.  A few scattered clouds kept the day cool and made the work delightful.
To purchase this painting, please see my web page - "Pine on the Pond"

Dutton Morning

Pastel, 6x9 on UArt

Number 15 of '21 in 21' Cloud Challenge

As the rising daylight chases the last purples from the deep shadows, the sunlight streaks through the pine trees bringing life to the marsh with its brightness.  For a few moments, the color of the passing dawn lingers in the clouds and reflects on the still water.
To purchase this painting, please click on my web link: "Dutton Morning." 

Breaking

Pastel - 9x6 on UArt

Painting 03 for Karen Margulis' Challenge

This painting was inspired by the breaking clouds after a storm.  The surf was up and the reflections of the early morning light were broken and scattered.  The sun had risen above the break, but the sky was still painted with golden light. 

Dune Contrasts

Pastel, 6x9 on UArt

In the early morning, the contrasts of light, shadow, color, and value on the dunes create a sense of wonder and enchantment.  The combination of boldness of color and depth of value presents a challenge for me to paint with that same sense of drama.  I compiled this small painting from notes, sketches, and photographs in order to work out the elements of the scene to create realistic images using these strong color and value contrasts.

Early Morning Shadows

Pastel over Watercolor & Ink, 5x7

As the sun rises above the low clouds in the early morning, the light casts the dunes and the ridges in sharp contrasts of light and shadow.

Over the Top

Watercolor & Ink, 4x6

The dunes rise in ranks coming back from the beach.  From the top of the tallest one, the path descends to the wet sand and waves.

Painting is available on EBAY from 2/26/16 - Click Here

Down to the Beach, 2

Pastel on Wallis, 6x9

I have been intrigued by this dune and the path that goes around it to the beach.  The changing light and wind continually paint it with a new and different look.

"Morning Song"

Pastel on Canson Touch, 14x10

In late August on the marsh, the rising sun orchestrates a song for the morning.  The clear light creates the harmony by mixing the blazing, bright color of the day with the soft, muted tones of the shadows and distance.  At this time of year, the spartina grass is an intense green of almost blinding purity, and the tips of the long blades begin to turn to a golden yellow.  The taller cord grass begins to fade with touches of red and light brown.  When the tide is high early in the day, the water is like a mirror for the grass and distant trees.  The sky has a few fluffy, indistinct clouds that lose themselves in pink and lavender near the horizon.

I have set out to capture that image and atmosphere in this picture.