Rocks and Wildflowers Round 2

Rocks and Wildflowers - 2nd Pass

Acrylic 12" x 16"

                                              Rocks and Wildflowers Two Lights

The picture above left was the first pass at the painting, the picture on the right is the finished painting.

In addition to adding the wildflowers, I also did a little color work in the rocks, and some slight compositional changes to the water , rocks, and shrubs which I think made the composition a bit more dramatic.

I may even scale this painting up to an 18" by 24" or a 24" x 36"  There are so many compositional possibilities let along different seasons.

I've included a link to the previous post which describes a bit more about the genesis of this particular painting below.

http://robertkahlerlandscapepaintings.blogspot.com/2020/07/rocks-and-wildflowers.html

Rocks and Wildflowers

Rocks and Wildflowers

Two lights 

Acrylic 12" x 16"

This is my latest Acrylic Painting of a composition that is a common sight in and around Two Lights.  I explained the process to this point in another post if you are interested in learning about methods for creating painting.  Below I've put the large charcoal drawing (12" x 18") side by side with the Acrylic

When I had reached a stopping point in the main painting, I decided to quickly sketch out some other ideas from my trip with leftover paint on 4" by 6" note cards.

Sketch " x 6"

I really enjoy these quick sketches.  I learn a lot from them with very little time invested.  For instance, in the painting above, the ocean seems to "run off" the picture to the left.  Through the placement of rocks or shrubs I will reverse that so that it leads the eye into the painting and not out of it.  It's a win win.  I don't waste paint and I get to explore ideas in a much looser manner.

Surf Sketch 4" x 6"

Scale of Sketches

Two Lights, Cape Elizabeth

Comprehensive Charcoal Drawing

Between the Rocks and Sea

Two Lights Cape Elizabeth

12" x 18"

Although I don't have  any single process for creating a painting, this subject has progressed in a fairly typical way of late.  Spending time on location is always motivating.  I make a number of quick notes and sketches on note cards in addition to simply spending some time walking a location and observing.  I've begun using note cards for these sketches as they fit into a travel kit very easily.

Pencil notes from direct observation 4" x 5"

I then review a number of sketches and decide which subject to elaborate.  See below.

Pencil Comp Sketch

8" x 11"

Years ago I had a happy accident when looking through some old sketches - they were on top of one another and at times created new and interesting compositions.  So I now will intentionally crop drawings to examine other possibilities.  When I'm on location, its still easy for me to get caught up in the scene and not seeing things from a perspective of composition.

                                       

When examining the two halves of the picture - I immediately settled on the right side of the composition as much stronger the whole composition as originally sketched.  The left side of the composition seemed much too static when viewed in this manner.

I plan to execute a number of paintings from this drawing including watercolor, acrylic, and oil.  I enjoy exploring different media as the unique qualities of each capture different elements of nature. 

Breakers Two

Pen and Ink - Breakers Two

I enjoy studying the many moods of the ocean.  The power of the waves.  The color and the shapes in the rock and in the surf, the reflections of the sun and moon, the mist, sea fog and foam, and , the movement of the waves create constantly shifting and new fascinations to me.  This is all purely the visual and doesn't even take into account the impact of the sounds and smells of the ocean.

These drawings are half memory half imagination from my childhood explorations of Higgins Beach in Scarborough Maine, Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth, and my most recent trips to Pemaquid.

Tidal Pool, Incoming Tide - Pen and Ink