A Ripple in TIme

At the Hill Lifesaving Museum Juried Show

"A Ripple in Time" 11x14 Oil

 Each year I paint my granddaughter. I love watching her grow and try to preserve a special moment as well as create an interesting painting. We spend a week together on the Cape each summer. She spends most of her days alternating between the ocean and the pool and playing in the sand. The water can sometimes be full of seaweed and she's not a big fan; But on this day the water was crystal clear.

I was drawn to the transparency that exposed the ripples in the sand created by the movement of the water. This was complemented by ripples created by Elouise as she moved through the water. The sunlight was strong and provided perfect lighting. I used many layers and transparent glazes to create the effect that I wanted. 

It will be a gift to her.  Before gifting it, I submitted it to the juried "Sea and Sky" show at  the Hull Lifesaving  Museum. It is one of my favorite venues as it is all about the ocean. The title was suggested by my husband. I loved his title idea because it really expresses the ephemeral quality of such a moment.

Magical moments in Rockport.

When Frozen was my grand daughter's favorite movie, she insisted on wearing either her Elsa or Anna outfit no matter where  we went. So when hiking around Rockport and Halibut Point one day, she dressed like a princess. When she walked out to the end of the path, she became captivated by the ocean and the beautiful view. I loved the composition, the juxtaposition of the blues, and the wonder she experienced  as a young impressionable girl. I hope she continues to love nature and remain in awe of it as she grows.

I blocked in the underpainting using transparent oxide red. Once values were established, I began blocking in large masses. I used the rocks to lead the viewer to the focal point. The warmth of the rocks complimented the sun illuminating the figure. I reserved the most detail for the focal point-the dress and figure, a little looser in the vegetation and rocks and let the water and sky remain fairly loose as the backdrop to the scene. 

I love to  preserve special moments in a painting as I feel it conveys much more of a feeling of time and place than a photo can.

 

Evening tide, Aptos, CA

"Evening Tide"  12x24/oil

My fascination with the ocean has been lifelong. Growing up on the beach, I listened to the waves crashing as I fell asleep at night, smelled the salt air as soon as we got close to home and had the Atlantic shore as my "backyard". I miss it every day, but never stop thinking about it and feel grateful that I was so blessed. I also learned to respect the ocean and it's power. The waves on the Aptos beach were large and loud and only seemed to quiet down when the day ended and the sun was setting. The birds gathered each evening along the shore and there was a kaleidoscope of  different colors each evening. In this painting I chose a blue orange harmony.  I used the water that pooled on the shore to lead the viewers eye through the gulls, back to the surf and beyond to the merging of sea and sky. The long horizontals of the clouds in the sky give a calming effect to contrast with the surf breaking the horizon line and the staccato movement of the birds as they gather on the shoreline. The patches of bright blue sky breaking through the clouds are reflected in the water to unify the painting.

Aptos evening

"Aptos evening"  12x24 oil

My daughter recently moved to Aptos, CA. We drove cross country from VT to CA in January and after seeing many magnificent places along the way, we arrived at her place in Aptos. I felt she had about as perfect a view as anyone could have. The beach in front of her condo is magnificent from the moment the sun starts to rise in the morning until it sets at night. Rain and fog only add another mysterious dimension. Even in the dark the sounds and smells are a sensory delight. This painting is from our very first evening there. We walked to the bottom of the hill and watched the sun set towards Capitola. The birds were all lined up along the beach and the colors were vibrant and constantly changing. It was a different feeling than an Atlantic sunset, each with it's own special beauty. Each night after, the scene would repeat itself in one form or another and I will probably paint a few more while it is still fresh in my head.

Inspiration

"Inspiration" 24x30 oil

"Inspiration" 8x10 study and 24x30 studio version

If you have looked through my paintings, by now you've discovered that I love to walk in the early morning and evening. I am captivated by the stunning light and color I am treated to by sunrise and sunset. The light reflecting on the water and earth brings a harmony to a scene that can leave me breathless. In creating the small 8x10 painting, I became so enamored of the scene I wanted to keep painting when I was done. I went into my studio and began working on a larger version. The different proportions of the 2 canvases meant some alterations, but that was just another challenge that made it fun. The large version is a gallery wrap; I find it easier to deal with edges when I do a smaller version first. I particularly was drawn to the blues and violets in the sand as darkness descended. I used the meandering storm fence to draw the viewer back into the distance at a slow,  leisurely pace. The shapes of the houses silhouetted in the distance are meant to give enough information with only a suggestion rising up against the sky. My aim is to  keep the scene quiet and the viewer transfixed on the transformation  in nature.

Rhythm & Blues

"Rhythmic Blues" 9x12 gallery wrap

Daybreak Beach Stroll 16x20

Gentle rolling waves,  the advancing and receding patterns of the water, the light bouncing off the surface or shining through the crest of the wave all capture my attention. Mostly, I paint my impressions of it, as it  rapidly changes and is a fluid, dynamic experience.  Colors change with wind and clouds -and alter the patterns even in a moments time; sand churns up from the bottom and colors ebb and flow with the water,  but there is a consistency that is evident. It seduces me every time.

The Sea as Inspiration

Along The Marginal Way, Ogunquit, ME/private collection

Let's Boogie 6x6 oil

Big Surf/gallery wrap oil

Kathy and Emma/gallery wrap  oil

Beautiful dawn/private collection

Growing up on the beach in Old Rexhame, in a house that my grandfather built, provided me with an idyllic childhood that began my love affair with the ocean. I respected it's power, was in awe of it's beauty, and was mesmerized by it's abilty to bombard of all my senses at once.