The Red Shirt (12 x 16) SOLD
I’ve read that it’s advisable to place the horizon low when painting the sea to avoid making the waves look like a wall at the top of the painting. It’s a rule I violate frequently.
When I walk along the beach I am drawn to the leading edge of the ocean. Looking out from the edge of the waves the sea does feel like a wall above me. And the breakers rise many feet above sea level. In winter they they tower over the beach.
Standing in front of all that raw power I am awed that something so elemental is also so beautiful. My eyes follow the waves. I rarely scan the horizon.
I want to catch that feeling of being small and looking up into the waves, so when I place people right on the edge of the beach I often place the horizon high, or as in this case eliminate it altogether.
Pigment Notes: The water is phthalo blue, cobalt blue, French ultramarine, all dulled by burnt sienna and raw sienna. The beach is multiple washes, some salted, of burn sienna, raw sienna, and burnt umber mixed with a a hair of cobalt blue. Winsor red and cadmium yellow for the boy’s skin. Quinacridone gold, raw sienna and burnt umber for his hair. Winsor red and raw sienna for the shirt. French ultramarine and cobalt blue for his pants.
1. Comment by Christine Tanfield
30/Sep/2009 at 4:27 pm
I bought your lovely “Sunseeker” card from a shop in Lyme Regis. On the back of the card it shows you are the Artist. The shop was May Cottage cards, Uplyme Devon. I’m sending it to a friend as a birthday card but love the bright colours you’ve used. I bought it because I wanted to get out my coloured pencils and do a copy of it. Have you anymore cards of sea side places in England? I didn’t know where to look on your website. This card is one of Lyme Regis near the cobb. I love your work – I also love painting & sketching and would love to get into it more. I threw myself into evening classes a few years ago and was amazed at what I produced not having done it since leaving school. I’m now 53. I love walking and singing classical music (a member of the Gloucester choral Society). Keep up the good work – you’re painting is very uplifting!