Early morning light, very early
Posted: June 28, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized 37 CommentsOn my last morning in Rockport I woke up really early and decided (even before coffee!) to tackle a full painting of a scene that I had sketched a few days earlier. It’s funny how the brain works. Six days earlier this seemed too complicated to paint (rusty painting skills, rusty drawing skills, not relaxed, etc.) but after a week of painting every day I was ready to attempt it. When I sketched the scene the previous week my intention was the same — to create a focus on the buildings just after sunrise when they are at their brightest. With a multi-layered scene like this (traps in the foreground, boats in the middle, houses and trees further back) a limited palette seemed to be the best way to achieve the type of unity that I wanted.
I haven’t used much Raw Umber or Burnt Umber recently, mostly because they dry up and get too hard in the palette but I had them in my paint bag and squeezed out a blob of each. When you use them fresh they are very granular and wonderful. Almost gritty in texture. Along with a dab of Ultramarine and some Cobalt Violet, that made up the limited palette.
The scene was remarkably different a few hours later when I put my brushes down. The light was not quite as sharp and most of the boats had made their way out into the open water. Painted on Saunders 140 lb CP, 15″ x 11″.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Special moment, special painting. Beautiful colours, beautiful patterns. Coffee must have tasted so good afterwards!
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Coffee was so good after this Tony. Rockport is a special place for many reasons. Waking up to this view is one of them.
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Wow, Shari, you create such magic with a limited palette! I always look forward to seeing your work
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Thanks so much Lori.
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Shari, I LOVE this!! Your style is so beautiful and distinct… I feel like I could choose your work out of an array of paintings!! Thank you so much for taking the time daily to share with us. I love reading about your decision points: which colors you use; how you’ve chosen to capture the scene; what were the challenges, etc!! I am inspired daily by your work.
Warm regards, Denise
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Denise, thanks so much for taking the time to write. It is my pleasure to share the process.
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I cannot even wrap my brain around the homes..the boats ..the reflections..Wow.
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Many thanks Monique. Yes, it is a spectacular view!
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Love it Shari, that warm shadow color is really give the early morning feel! the 5 layers or coulissen are such a pleasant feature, it sucks you into the painting!
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Thanks so much Edo. The light is quite special in Rockport. Maybe the sea air makes it clearer.
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I live also on the coast, and a lot of artist and filmmakers come here for the special diffused light.
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I love the depth with the traps in the foreground, the boats in the middle and the houses and trees in the back. The limited palette worked really well for this. Great job showing the morning light on the houses and the boats.
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Thanks Joan. Hope you are well.
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OMG, this is so beautiful Shari!
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Thanks Cheryl!
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Absolutely beautiful and amazing.How do you get to Rockport and where do you stay.I do wish you would share your drawings skills with us with a book or video. Amazing
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HI Tom,
Rockport is on Cape Ann in Massachusetts. It’s near Gloucester and you get there on highway 95. Very short drive from Boston.
I would love to do a book but I haven’t received any offers yet. I do have two online classes though. Here’s a link to my classes on Craftsy.
This is a discount code for Sketching the City: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/ShariBlaukopf_6838_H
This is a discount code for Sketching Landscapes: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/ShariBlaukopf_5120_H
Shari
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As always, your control of color and values make this sing. Also the rhythm of the house windows, boat windows and trap shadows give it just the right amount of salt and pepper variety. They really enhance the flavors; the warm touches of warm color spread through the composition are also very “tasty”.
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I love all your food analogies Jeff. It was a luxury to have a full week to paint with no distractions… Wish every week could be like that.
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Ohhh yummy new colors !!! These are a wonderful combination. About paints drying up, I love Winsor/Newton Raw Sienna but it’s like a rock in 3 days too. I really appreciated your take on analyzing the right time to tackle complicated scenes. It helps to reinforce my courage for tackling them in the right frame of mind. Another great painting of yours to enjoy and study.
Thank you.
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I don’t have that much of a problem with Raw Sienna but Burnt Umber can be difficult. Even with a lot of water I don’t get much out of it. It really needs to be fresh to work for me. Thanks for writing!
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I’ve had good results with Maimeri Burnt Umber staying fresh.
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Wow! Now that’s what I’d call a full page.
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Thanks Janice!
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All I can say is…awesome!
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Thanks so much Dee!
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Shari this is incredible. Maybe I like boat scenes or purple but this is one of your best. I want to try that limited palette.
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Thanks so much Judy!
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Hi Shari. Its simple, clean, and wonderfully done. BTW, say “Hi” to Tony for me when you see him in England.
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Great to hear from you Russell. Thanks so much! And I will say hi to Tony for you. We’ll see each other in Ireland as well as England in just a few weeks.
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Definetly captured that early morning glow with that palette 👍👍 I’ve been using Winsor and Newton pans and the colours are so much easier to rewet than tube colours that have dried. Raw and Burnt Umber included.
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In pans? Ok, that makes sense Ros. I have a set of Winsor Newton pan colours with some Burnt Umber in there and it’s quite creamy. But I have to admit that if I want really dark colours, the tubes still work better for me. I’d rather squeeze out a blog of fresh paint and use that instead of diluting pans.
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Your composition is beautiful and so inspirational. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for writing Connie.
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Hi Shari,
I was in Rockport yesterday and saw some of your prints in the window of a shop on Tuna Wharf. The shop was closed, but next time I go I want to stop in and take a closer look. I have my eye on one in particular that I love. Don’t think you titled them, or maybe you did? I was with my young grandchildren so it was a bit chaotic!
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Hi Marian,
Yes, Four Winds Pottery sells prints of my work but they are not always open. If you go on the weekend it will be open for sure, especially in July and August.
They are not titled but they are signed and numbered.
Shari
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Shari, what could I add that hasn’t been written , so very uplifting to look at …..like a Mozart concerto !
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