Yesterday the heat had eased. The wind was up, but it was the day of my planned return to paint with my outdoor painting colleagues. Venue: the Garden Island Yacht Club. Sounds inviting, doesn’t it?
Back troubles have been an issue lately, so instead of wriggling into the car (ouch) I wheeled my kit down to a nearby spot on the Esplanade. Close to home in case….
My ‘view-finder’ is AWOL so after making a crooked rectangle with my fingers I sorted out a composition to feature the dune grasses lined up against the grey-green sea. With so much less sea to see when sitting close to sea-level, there was much more vegetation to paint!
My one brush (size 8) would not cooperate with the grasses, so I did some scratching with a palette knife (usually a no-no for me). The painting is 10×14″ – just do-able in 2.5 hours.
It was lovely to be out there again. I met a few very nice people, including an artist colleague who stopped for a brief chat. My partner delivered a delicious coffee on his way out to shop. No back problems really except for some late niggles. Perfect.
My new trolley worked well.
And, there are hundreds of exciting compositions out there in that one spot, and thousands more spots!
Getting used to the rigours of it, but good to have broken the ice. Next Friday I will aim for Garden Island, but will do some more outdoors in the meantime.
In the studio, I am painting for a themed exhibition.
Painting to a theme? What do you think about that?
Glad to see you back in “the action”, Philippa! Your new trolley full of goodies is a most excellent tool to assist you in your travels to landscape. I love how the seascape is a small hint in the backdrop of the lovely grasses. Looking forward to all the new things awaiting you!
Beautiful painting – makes me want to see the ‘spot’ for my myself 🙂
Glorious loose brushwork and fabulous landscape – good to see the return of your art – take care of that back of yours…
Thank you so much Patricia. Your comments have given me a boost!
Thank you for your lovely comments happyandsimple. I will describe it a little more for you in paint!
Wow! Thanks John. It’s good to be back and feel the pull again. I will be more cautious around grandchildren.
That trolley is a piece of kit ! Lovely atmospheric painting,P. Painting to a theme – great (depending on the theme !) – what is it ? 🙂 Love the idea that you’ve now got a new plein air spot. Look after your back 🙂 V, xx
Thanks V! The theme is “In the mind of the beholder” as the show runs parallel to a psychology conference in Adelaide. Very open really, but have made 3 starts with altered seascapes. Perhaps all 3 will go in eventually but opens on Feb 15th. Yikes! Just found the great outdoors again too. Funny how it all happens at once!
Your painting does have the feel of a breezy coastal scene.
Thank you Stephen! The easel was rocking a bit but eventually the rain sent me indoors.
I remember well days of stiff breeze along the coast in the foreshore where we sheltered as kids on our summer holidays with our grandparents.