Saturday, February 6, 2016

Painting Water

I love to paint on location. These two paintings were completed during the Wet Paints event at the Phoenix Gallery in Bellport, NY during the summer of 2014.
"Bellport, Windy Day" (afternoon), Oil on Canvas, 16" x 20"
Detail, "Bellport, Windy Day"
Painting water as it is moving without reference to a photo is challenging, especially on a windy day as it was here. I find it necessary to sit and watch the water for a long time before actually applying the paint to the canvas. I look for shape and color in the waves, and at the relative size of the wave from horizon to shore. The brushmarks become an abstraction.
"Moored at Bellport" (painting in the morning). Oil on Canvas, 8" x 10"

detail, "Moored at Bellport"

This small sailboat was difficult to get right because it is so small on the 8" x 10" canvas. It is only about 2 and a half inches high! Notice the relative smoothness of the water near the horizon as compared to the water at the bottom of the canvas. The whitecaps are still evident.

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