Storms in Blue

Dark Storms thundered across the Perth sky, putting on an amazing show at Scarborough Beach.

Inspiring.  Delightful.

Stirring the imagination!

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Dark Storms

 

No picture perfect, pretty blue skies today.

Nor tropical turquoise waters lapping so softly upon the glittering golden warm sands.

No.

Moody.  Ominous.  Storms and seas lashing out in wild fury.  …… so it seemed.

 

 

 

The Painting

I was inspired.  My imagination freed.

The canvas of sky and sea was spectacular.

And regardless of whether I “do it justice” or not; still, I will do what I’m being stirred to do.

The rapidly changing faces of the sea and sky needed to be recorded, needed photographed, and needed to be painted.

 

 

This oil painting was completed fairly quickly, from memory.

Not on the spot.

(Nor while looking at the photos. I felt that if I could not convey the Feeling of the scene, from my heart felt remembrance of the scene, and stir the viewers to an emotional response,  then perhaps I need to do better next time!)

 

 

We  just returned from a quick little break at Scarborough Beach.   

While there,  were treated to some mid winter wild storms.

The vibe of the beach was vastly different to what we see 90% of the time here in Perth.

And that very difference..  made the gloom, greyness, biting cold, the squalls, the skies  – so much more Intriguing!

 

 

 

I kept this simple, with a monochromatic theme.

Less,  being More.

 

Employing too many colors, would be a recipe for Chaos.

For a lack of clarity.

And while that very element is required to some degree for this painting to work, Chaos must not reign out of control.

It must be harnessed.

Channeled.

I must ‘direct’ it.

As the artist/creator,  I must direct where the eyes will go.

 

And you can I hope,  see that the eye is being led.

From the lower right hand corner, diagonally up and left. Towards the shelf of buff and The White that is butted up against the deep dark richness of Prussian Blue in its very darkest.

 

(This Contrast of Light against Dark is a lovely tool to use in your paintings.)

 

 

 

Oil Paints Used

Colors used were,  primarily my Blues:  Prussian Blue,  Cobalt Teal Blue,  White,  Buff Titanium,  and a bit of Cerulean.

 

 

 

Surface Used

I chose to use a prepared wood board.  Its solid, heavy and would allow the brush marks to remain visible if and where I so chose to do so.

The sturdy feel of these wood wrap around boards is very enjoyable to use. But it is rather expensive here, so I keep them for ‘treats.’

 

 

 

A side note…. for those in Perth going to Scarborough Beach – The Wild Fig cafe/restaurant certainly has my vote for delicious food.

Everything we ate while there, was great.   And their GF Fig Cake was incredible.