Monday 9 September 2013

Blue boats




Often, from our French home, we visit friends who have a holiday home on the north eastern coast of Spain. In the winter it makes a pleasant change from the cold snowy mountains to go to the warmer sea. These two boats are always there, like mother and child. I was drawn to the wonderful Hyacinth blue of the larger boat and whilst I managed to capture it on canvas it has been astonishingly difficult to photograph. The entire painting doesn't have the same overall blue cast, despite there being blue boats, blue sea and blue sky. Or maybe I am fooling myself.

There is never time whilst we are there to do anything other than a quick sketch, so this was painted back in my studio from a sketch and photo references, and my abiding memory of that wonderful blue.

I find it really difficult to paint 'out of season' i.e. when I am surrounded by snow it feels very odd to paint warmer subjects. It is a preciousness associated with my love of painting plein air (outside, in front of the subject) that I need to address.
This is also quite a lot larger than I have been working lately. I try to use bigger brushes, but it feels very alien to me. Need to practise more.

Oils on canvas

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Location:L'Escala, Spain

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