It’s weird that I’ve lived in San Diego for 9 years and have never painted the waves. This was one of the most challenging plein air paintings I’ve done. You really only have about a second to look at a wave until it’s gone. I tried to take a ‘snapshot’ in my mind of a different part of the wave, every time one came by. I also focused on a different element every time too. What are the values, edges, colors, shapes?
The composition and placement of the waves is completely up to me. I watched for a while until an arrangement I liked came by. Then I memorized it and quickly drew the large shapes. Looking at the finished piece a few days later, I don’t like the composition I chose. The two biggest white shapes are on the left edge of the canvas. Even though it’s balanced by the seaweed and wave on the right, something feels unsettling. There’s definitely room for improvement.
I’ll make an effort to paint more of these. It’s a really great exercise in design and analyzing.
The beauty of plein air I think is that you’re able to communicate the “true” colors and values of nature (which you’ve done so beautifully here-very fresh!) You can reference to your study here for a beautiful studio piece, right?
Rita,
Yes, it would be a good idea to reference back to a plein air study for a bigger studio piece. Many things are lost in a photograph and there’s something that happens in a painting that I feel I can only get through painting on location. Actually being there in the environment creates a better connection between the artist and the painting. Or that’s how I feel.
This is a wonderful painting Stan, and to think you actually managed to paint it live… thats incredible!
I love the colour changes within the waves which give it such depth. Its when looking at paintings like this I realise I’m a long way off and no matter how many tutorials I go through on the internet its important that I actually attend a good school. I’m signing up to a life drawing class in Derby (UK), my home city, in June, which I can’t wait for. The woman who runs it was apparently schooled at the Walt Disney studios in Paris so its hopefully a great opportunity.
Thanks for all of the tutorials. So far I’ve followed the step-by-steps videos for an eye, nose & mouth (do you critique minor bits like that Stan?)and am looking forward to my first portait.
Great work,
Thanks, Andy
ya, a good mentor is important to make sure you’re on the right track. I try to get to critiques that people send me, but I have so many of those requests that I can’t get to everyone. Hope you understand. I might do a service and charge a small fee so that people that are really serious about it can still guarantee to get a critique.
Good luck at your new school
Thanks Stan. can’t wait to start a class. Good idea regarding critiques. I can imagine you get loads, as well as ask the emails and Facebook comments. I’ll bet that’s a full time job