Sometimes we vacation on the Oregon coast. I love the lonely beach stretching off
into the distance. This studio painting was created using reference photos and the
solitary sense of stillness I have in that wide open space.
I love painting in Laguna Beach. The canyons and hills are just as inspiring as the coast. This afternoon I was attracted to how rich the colors in the shadow were and how the last light illuminated just the crest of the hill and the distant mountain.
A photo of the same view clearly shows how a representational painting does more than just copy a scene. The artist translates the physical world through his or her own vision and communicates something (hopefully) truer, more focused, and more personal than a copyist.
Nothing like an afternoon spent at the beach focusing my attention
on the beauty of the sand and sea. So much to be grateful for.
