From my chair, more or less
Posted: February 7, 2022 Filed under: Uncategorized 27 CommentsI did a lot of painting from my beach chair on Grace Bay Beach in Turks & Caicos, mostly because I didn’t bring a big easel with me and a beach chair comes with an umbrella! From my chair, I could see sand and water of course, but the view was more interesting if I turned my back to the ocean. Looking up the beach, I found some interesting shapes — a white umbrella against the blue sky (it was more symmetrical than the way I drew it!), a yellow jug of water, some backlit signs and a few stacked chairs. I tried to lose the edges between the objects and their shadows, and just think of them as simple shapes.
We had a few days of turbulent weather. I went down to the beach and tried to paint the approaching storm. The high winds dried my paper before I get a big wash down, so I ended up with a blotchy mess.
I also tried to paint the dark clouds in the other direction, but it started to rain so I took a photo and painted it from my reference image. I didn’t quite capture the drama in the sky but at least there were no blotches when I painted indoors in a more controlled setting.
On our last day, the sun came out again but the winds were fierce. I think the palms say it all.
The palms definitely say it all! You captured the wind well, Shari.
Lois, thank you!
WOW! Fantastic sketches and what a lesson on painting in adverse conditions, lol! The last sketch is my favorite, you nailed the depiction of the high winds — no explanation necessary!
Thanks so much Yvonne!!
Great capture of the wind and heat
Thanks so much Marilyn!
marvellous You xxx
love the wind swept palm trees!
xx
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Thanks Karim!
Lovely paintings Shari. Those images brought back memories. We were there in 2017 during Hurricane Irma.You definitely enjoyed better weather than we did.
Oh, wow, that must have been very dramatic! Those skies are amazing even on a calm day, but I can’t even imagine what a hurricane was like.
Oh, exquisitely beautiful!
Thanks Sandi!
lovely sketches. I’ve been to Grace Bay several times myself and the scenes, beautiful turquoise water, and stormy skies look very familiar
Lucky you if you’ve been to Grace Bay several times. It is SO beautiful. I still dream about that turquoise water, now that I’m back.
Storms, wind, rain-looks like you still enjoyed a wonderful vacation. Thanks for “taking” us! Now, time for some snow ❄️
Denise, we haven’t had any new snow for a long time. In fact we had rain which turned everything to ice. I hope it’s nicer where you are.
I can feel that warm wind and hear the rustles of the palms. Gorgeous image!
Thanks so much Aprille.
The first painting may be “a blotchy mess”, but it really captures the ominousness of an approaching storm. I like it!
Excellent paintings, you captured the windswept palms perfectly, I also like how you captured the white coreal sand, what colour do you use again for the sand? you mentioned it before.
Shawn, I use Buff Titanium sometimes for this colour sand. It works pretty well as a pale, warm neutral. It looks a bit like putty when you squeeze it out of the tube.
These are beautiful, and sun-drenched, and I love your “blotchy mess”. You have no idea how much I needed to see these beautiful pictures at this dark time.
Betsy, thank you!
..personally I like blotchy..
Thanks Brenda! I sometimes like blotchy too, but not in this case.
Looks like you had a bit of everything except snow while you were there. I love the bright colors that have me yearning for warm weather. Thanks for sharing bits of your trip.
Joan, we did have a bit of everything but certainly no snow! As for yearning for warm weather, it will be here soon! I think we are over the worst of it! Hope all is well with you!