Seascape, Update

Here is a good example of a "stalled" picture. This kind of picture may start out well, and as it develops, we begin to see things we don't like or didn't envision.

In my case, there is something a little too "precious" about this picture in its current state. At the moment, I'm not positive as to the reasons. Maybe it is the time of day, or perhaps the colors are exaggerated in a certain way. Since this is a studio project, I will put it aside until I'm ready to revisit it.

This is not a unique situation. I used to try to fight through painting blocks. Sometimes it was successful, but it was a brute force method. These efforts were intense, and could lead to burnout.

There are smarter ways to revive a picture that is in a coma. Sometimes we grow so accustomed to looking at a picture from the same vantage point, that we miss obvious flaws. Viewing the picture turned upside down, or backwards using a mirror often helps.

It can be comforting to know that other artists have been in the same situation before. Looking at works by other masters will sometimes reveal solutions.

In my case, I'm simply going to give it some time.

Ocean Visit

Last week I visited the beach, with the intention of painting my first seascape.

While I was planning my trip, I spent a lot of time searching for the right site to visit. I wanted to paint the most unadulterated area possible. Most of the Atlantic seaboard has been overrun by beachfront houses and tourist hotels. The natural dunes have diminished or ceased to exist. Some beaches have to truck in sand or they would disappear altogether. As a result, its hard to find a beach that feels authentic.

My choice was a wildlife refuge not too far from the hotel where I was staying. I visited the site in advance, and enjoyed the scenery. There was lots of interesting things to paint: dunes, beaches, and some wildlife.

As the week of my visit approached, the weather predictions indicated a mixed bag: a few nice days punctuated by lots of rain. The forecast also called for strong winds throughout the week. It appeared that there would be only a few days of sunshine. This was discouraging. As I didn't have the option of rearranging my visit, I decided to go anyway and make the best of it.

The refuge was about an hours drive from where I was staying, so it was easy to get to by car. I ended up visiting only a few times; it was so windy that I could barely hold onto a sketchpad. I spent hours studying and sketching the waves. Back in my hotel room, I worked out a design for the final composition of the painting:


I started working on the painting towards the end of my visit. As it became clear that the weather was not going to cooperate, I made the decision to set the picture aside and complete it in the studio.