From the Beach at the Tickle Inn before the Nippers Appear

At Cape Onion there are three significant Islands that form a beautiful vista.  This scene is facing north off the beach looking at The Onion and the tip of Big Head.  Whales play here in a daily matinee.  A distraction to painting, but such is plein air.  Here I painted one in the series from the beach in front of the Tickle Inn.

Big Head and the Onion, No Nippers Yet, 10x12, Oil on board

Given the time, late in the day, and the unbalanced composition this painting had its challenges.  In order to create subtle separation in the islands I relied on colour temperature and texture.  Warm temperatures with texture advance in the picture plane.  To create some balance I used some rocks and a few splashes of colours observed while on site.  These do not show in my photo reference.  So, emphasize them so the viewer will see them.


For this painting I used a #12 and #8 bristle filbert.  The palette consisted of Ultramarine Blue, Viridian, Cadmium Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Alizarin, Mineral Violet and Titanium White.  For earth tones I mix them.  They are always richer than the tube colours.