Yesterday’s pipe picture

I move my spot by about Two meters yesterday, where I had a view of Table Mountain in the distance.  I was just settling down to paint when a wedding group arrived to take shots of the bridal party.  I decided to include them in the picture but have to admit that I spun my wheels a bit and didn’t settle down till they had gone.  And I had left my camera in the car, which was an added element of disorganisation.  In any case here is the picture.  I eventually added the group in from memory.  When they left the groom smiled at me.  There was a pregnant moment when I could have chatted to him but decided not to intrude in their day, which is not my usual thing.  So we grow.

I also saw, over the back of the dune where I usually sit, there is a beautiful view of False Bay and Cape Hangklip which I will do next time I do not have to shelter from the South Easter.  Strand is a great walking beach, especially at this time of the year, there are always people walking up the fence, just beyond the pipe and back.  I tried to capture some of them too.

Today’s Pipe Beach painting

Today I sat at the path down to the Pipe, after a frustrating surfing session, and did a painting.  I did two of the same scene – the second of which is not too bad.

 I painted the first in a bit of a rush.  

Then the wind dropped and I painted a second painting of the same scene.  

I think the foreground is better.  How do you like my figures?  I sketched people as they walked up to the path and then painted them in.

I will put this one in my Beach Gallery where you can see  a bigger version.

Figures on a landscape

I have been reading Charles Reid again – The Natural Way to Paint and his latest book on Watercolour solutions.  He has such a vibrant way of portraying scenes on site.  This is definitely worth working towards.  And his figures are so alive.  this will need lots of practice.  Yesterday I did my scene at Strand Beach again.  It also got messy towards the end.  The day was very hot, I must get a good umbrella.  I photographed a couple and offered to put paintings of them on the this site.  Here is my first attempt – I will put the final product on my gallery page – in fact I will create a page for this type of work.

OK – I have just read Charles’ approach again in “Watercolor solutions” and am following his instructions.  It is interesting, he suggests doing the darks first to get the value range right.  So I have redrawn the picture and have done the darks.  Now I am going to have a quick swim then return to do more.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank Cecily in CJs Coffee shop for introducing me to Gypsey Music (Putamayo – Gypsey Groove – really cool stuff).

So here is painting so far…

Ok this is starting with the figure in the foreground.  I think I have got into trouble with the hair – too much detail and I still have to do the sea

Now I have done the chap – OK so far.  Those Gypsies…

And now I have put in the background – the sea worked OK around the woman’s head.  Now I am listening to the Stones…

OK  here is the final product.  I may touch it up a little tomorrow but my son is pushing to go down to the beach for a last surf on this beautiful, hot summer day.

Leaving Pipe Beach

I have put a copy of this picture on my gallery so that you can click on it to see a larger view.