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. 

Fred Howard Park in Watercolor

Even an overcast day is amazing at the beach!  This ink and watercolor was the third painting of the day, and the light was almost gone.  When the colors are fading or dull in the landscape, I turn to ink for my subjects.  Drawing can be done anytime, values are king here, then once I am finished I can decide whether to wash in some color or not.  Watercolor is perfect for this.  I would not normally turn to my oils for the subtle scenes.  Perhaps this is just my intuition.  I try to always listen to it and rely heavily on it when painting.  It is almost like I am a channel through which the landscape pours on it's way to my surface.  Painting number 2621 in 2621 days.

Sunset on the Beach

What better way to end the day than a sunset paint on the gulf coast of Florida?  Pretty amazing light in this part of the country!  It is amazing to me how much my palette changes from one region to the next, and I love exploring the full range with my oils!  One day soon I will return to the cold to await those days of spring.  Painting number 2617 in 2617 days!

White Sand and Sun

After several beach paintings, I finally feel like I have a handle on the color in this landscape!  Depending on the sunlight, this sand appears peachy pink to full out warm white - and all else shifts likewise with the sun!  The clear water also changes drastically from a warm yellow turquoise to a slate blue gray with heavy cloud cover.  I could paint here every day and each painting would be so different.  Perhaps I should stay here until I have completely mastered this beachscape?  I think I'm going to need LOTS OF PRACTICE.  LOTS AND LOTS.  Painting number 2615 in 2615 days.

Wheel Fun Rentals

This has been a fabulous day for painting, full of sun, sand and warm gulf coast breezes!  This cheerful place has called my name since I first stepped foot on the island - and today I am answering that call!!  It's fun to visit with the locals as they walk these white sand beaches!  Everyone is so friendly.  How could you not be in a place like this?  I find I am losing track of time as I work - who cares what time it is?  Life's too short for watching the clock!  Painting number 2613 in 2613 days.

Beach at Fred Howard Park

I spent all day painting on this sliver of land, three different sides and views.   A pair of dolphins swam nearby, and many different birds stopped by.  Visitors came by and a starfish was found on the beach, a little girl put it in the water to see it come back to life.  All of this soaked in to my painting as I laid down those strokes of paint.  It is as important to slow down and really take the time to observe my landscape as I paint.  It happens naturally here, with the rhythmic waves, sound of gulls, and gulf coast breezes on my face.  I think I could get used to this, especially in February!  Painting number 2608 in 2608 days.