On the Beach at Howard Park

 

On this windy day, I picked the quiet side of Howard's Beach to paint.  The rocks on the ridge sheltered me from the wind, allowing me to easily capture my scene with paint.  It is always fun to visit with passersby when I'm painting especially on a beach.  Everyone is happy and relaxed in such a place, soaking in the sun and sand of this paradise.  My models left the scene just as I was finishing up, and I believe they were from Iowa.  This is truly the best place to be in February!  Painting number 3698 in 3698 days. 

Afternoon at Howard Beach

 

I LOVE painting on the beach as the sun dips to the horizon, golden light warming up the whole landscape.  Even the surface of the water changed in an instant, right as it was time to take a pic and clean up.  I can see why people migrate here in the winter - the weather is perfect, the beaches so welcoming, and no one is in a hurry around here.  Not even me.  Painting number  3687 in 3687 days.  

Along the Beach

 

It was another painting day in paradise, in absolutely perfect weather here on Howard Beach, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.  It feels so good to be painting with my oils again, especially in such a place as this.  It's lovely to visit with those at the beach, everyone is so friendly.  There's no better art therapy than at the beach.  Painting number 3686 in 3686 days. 

Howard Beach

What a joy to stand on this white beach and paint!! My very first spot upon check in was right here at Howard Beach.  A perennial favorite, my cares slip away with every brushstroke and lap of the ocean at my feet.  It feels good to be using my oils again, after focusing on my inks.  Rich and buttery, oils are so different from ink and watercolor.  I'm going to enjoy every golden hour spent along this coast, and relish my painting time completely.  I truly needed this art therapy time!  Painting number 3685 in 3685 days. 

Day at the Beach

I love everything about these white sand beaches!  The color is so fun to explore with paint - and a challenge!  It is long between paint outs at the beach for me, and I forget how the powdery sand blows onto palette, painting, and skin, slipping between toes as I move to and from my painting.  The sun bounces off water and sand, burning my eyes a little as I work, and still I love everything about it.  It is sheer joy to put to paint what I see before me, and I'm learning the nuances of the beach in the moment.  I know when I go home I'll have sand in all my gear, and I'll probably be painting sand into my next paintings as I work out all out of my brushes and paint!  Painting number 3193 in 3193 days. 

Howard Beach Morning

This morning's quick paint could be any place within Howard Park, and after a quick spin through the area I headed to the end of the peninsula.  I seldom get a chance to paint white sand beaches, so I am taking every opportunity to explore the local color. I find it challenging to get the sand color as light as it is on these white sand beaches, and still make sense in the painting.  Just behind me, hundreds of birds gathered on the beach, standing in and out of the water, chattering away.  I did have to stand in the full sun to capture this scene, which I try to avoid. It's hard to get accurate color with the sun washing out the landscape, and messing with my eyes.  I never quite know what I have in this strong light until I bring the painting inside.  It's funny how the colors can change so much in artifical light. This was about an hour and a half paint, giving myself time to frame and turn in. I think I'll come back here for another after lunch.  I'll long for these beach days in the middle of winter!  Painting number 3191 in 3191 days. 

Howard Beach

The sand between my toes, sun on my skin and coastal breezes are probably what I love best about Florida!  After driving through torrential rain last night, the very first thing on my mind this morning was relaxing on the beach!  After a not so quick spin around Howard Island in Tarpon Springs, I decided on this shady spot on the beach to set up. Though the breezes were strong, the heavy duty tripod I got from my dad held my pochade firmly. I sketched my composition out with my brush, and leisurely let the painting unfold.  I didn't do an ink sketch first, and I probably should have.  I already have a slightly different composition in mind for the next one.  I enjoyed painting such a peaceful coastline and visiting with others soaking up the Florida sunshine.  Time slips away when I'm painting on a beach, the sound of the surf mesmerizing me.  I'm absolutely going to bask in every moment here.  Painting number 3186 in 3186 days.