Romancing Capitola

Taking a break in Capitola 30x40 oil painting

After a co worker of my daughter's saw my paintings at her house in Aptos, she asked if I would create a painting of her with her husband as a surprise for their anniversary. I said I would. She texted me a photo to use.
At first I thought the shadows on the rocks were off, but when I enlarged the area I realized they were mussels, not shadows. The photo wasn't too clear, so I enlarged it and then delved into my photos of Capitola so I could get the background area as accurate as possible. The pastel colored homes along the beachfront are iconic as well as the pier and stream. The stream cuts through the beach to flow under a bridge between the yellow restaurant on the right and the pastel homes to it's left. Although the bridge isn't in the photo or painting, I  know it's an important landmark for the downtown. The small stream leading back toward that area is put in to ensure the bridge is acknowledged, although not seen.
I had never painted with florescent colors so had to order the paint. Creating shadows with the new paint were a challenge.  I tested out colors on a canvas pad trying shadows with blues and violets and until I determined what looked right.  Initially I was going to omit the bike on the lower right, but in the end decided to put it in. First, it confirms there are two riders, and second, it leads the viewer into the painting with a diagonal.  Eliminating most of the bicycle's detail prevents the  viewer from lingering there. Since the canvas was so large, I made the birds on the beach in the far left and the mussels prominent details. They are a big part of the sensory experience when visiting this beach. The gulls are always present, moving about in large groups, soaring, then resting and repeating the cycle all day long. The outgoing tide exposes the rocks many treasures then hides them again until the next tide cycle.
When I felt the painting was complete, I texted a photo for approval before shipping. She texted me back:
"IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! I keep getting my phone to look at your artwork. Honestly, I've looked at about 20 times since you texted. It's breathtaking!"
The painting was challenging. It was large and both a landscape and informal portrait all in one. My daughter visited while I was working on it and told me the figures looked just like them.  I was encouraged. When I got the text, I was both relieved and very happy. The painting now resides in CA.