Friday 19 July 2013

Sparkling Water, Burnham Overy Staithe

Oil on Board, 10 x 17 inches

This is another marine subject to submit to the RSMA. I liked the composition, with the sailboat, puncturing the horizontal horizon line, forming the apex of a triangle with the blue boat on the mud and the boat with the mast and red buoy on the right. 

I find these kind of paintings, looking into the sun with water and a bright sky a real challenge of observing tones.  The water is bright, reflecting the sky, but it is darker than the sky itself and the sparkling spotlights on the water are brighter than the sky.  Our brain tells us the sail of the boat is white, but looking into the sun, it appears much darker than the sky. 

Getting these relative tones right is THE key to a successful painting, and if you can get the subtle colours right too, double the satisfaction!

4 comments:

  1. Another triumph Peter! Great handling of the light. Was it done plein air? Very impressive. You're going to have quite a collection for the RSMA this year, that's for sure!

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  2. Thanks so much David. I regret no, it wasn't done en plein air, hence the 'too finished' look for my and the selectors' taste, but we'll see. I'm doing a larger studio one of Morston next. We're definitely going to have to go to Norfolk and push me to get loose!

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  3. Gorgeous Peter and love you,re tips too Ve

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