Landwash update 3

I've spent more time building the wave structure and colour, along with developing the base for the water surface values.  Water surfaces are very complex and it takes concentration and time to get them to look as they should.  The good thing is that there is no precision as with a portrait, so it becomes freeforming shapes and lines instead of defined lines.

I've also begun to add some spatters of paint to give texture to the sand/gravel of the shoreline.  This shore is usually covered with smooth stones, but the surf had pulled them clear down to the sand line.  The sand here isn't the classic pale golden sand, but a mix of ochre sand and fine gravel.  I'm adding dark spatters to it with raw umber, violet and burnt sienna before adding lighter colours as highlights.

I'm working on the wave itself to build form and colour.  It too is complex and while it has specific shapes, it is organic and allows me some freedom.  Getting the light that shows through the highest points of the waves still isn't quite there, but I'm heading in the right direction.

Landwash update

 
I've blocked in more of the wave so it stretches across the canvas now, but there's still a lot of work to do yet.  I've been putting down the base colour for the ocean behind the wave and the wash in front then working darker details into those.

The sand/fine gravel is in place and will be defined using a spatter technique.  I hate this stage of a painting because nothing looks as it should, but it will start coming together, given time.

Landwash WIP

I've put the bones into place for a new water piece called Landwash.

This is done from life studies and images taken at Middle Cove, watching sedate waves washing ashore instead of the usual wild Atlantic breakers.  The bright sun on the crest of the wave makes the piece look as if its made of glass or ice - water frozen in time.

There's a lot of water to block in with fairly neutral blue greys, then comes the fun of creating the water surface.  This could take awhile...

The piece is 12 x 36" and in acrylics.

Zippo II

So good I drew it twice.  And perhaps will a third time too.

I love trying my hand at reflections and after last nights efforts I wanted to try the same image in different media.  This is drawn with coloured charcoal, Ocean Blue, and white pastel pencil.  These are similar to the original limited palette of ultramarine, burnt sienna and titanium white.  I have a small set of coloured charcoal pencils which I haven't used them a lot.  The colours are very subtle which does have an appeal and I should explore with them more.

This piece is on 8 x 10 brown paper sketchbook that is one of my favourites to draw in.  The manila coloured paper works so well for so many things, acting as the mid-range value.

Zippo

 Zippo

5 x 7

acrylics

Michael Naples is the host of this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge and his reference of a shiny Zippo lighter is proving popular.  This is my version of it in acrylics.  The challenge is the use of a limited palette of ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and titanium white.  Go on, have a try, you'll be amazed at the range of colours a limited palette provides.

This piece is available for purchase here.

Beach babe

 
This image by Valri Ary appealed to me.  The plump baby was experiencing her first ocean waves with delight.  I wish we could all have those 'first time' experiences again.

I recycled a 10 x 10 canvas for this, undercoated it quickly with some orange acrylic that was leftover on a palette, then sketched in a line drawing in charcoal.

 I blocked in some background and a few highlights, still using acrylics.

Then I laid in colours for the body

Then finally on to picking out some detail and refining the piece a bit more.  All in, about 2 hours work and a great painting exercise.