Thursday, July 09, 2009

USCG Loran Station


Saturday afternoon Peter somehow persuaded me to go the beach; I must have been feeling very accommodating ... And it turned out to be a revelation.
He planned to go to a beach in Wildwood Crest in front of an insanely large and wholly unoccupied new condo complex, but I suggested, since we were headed that way, that we check out the beach on the Wildwood side of the inlet that the Coast Guard owns and recently opened to the public.
A large portion of the beach is an off-limits shorebird nesting site and getting to the beach invloves a 1/5th of a mile slog over hot, loose sand, but it was so worth it. But for one family, which left not long after we arrived, we were all alone.
The dunes and vistas from the viewing platform at the end of the trail before you descend to the beach were simply gorgeous. Of course, I had failed to bring a camera, but we stopped to enjoy the view while I made the first three pencils sketches here.
The fourth is of one of the whale- and dolphin- (porpoises, actually) watching boats. I have never seen a whale here, but the porpoises are plentiful and come in close to shore.
The sketches (esp. the third one) may not make much sense on their own: I was drawing them to paint later.
But now I'm hoping to just go back and paint onsite.

These are two little (5x7) watercolors I did on the deck Saturday morning after everyone decamped for the marina--just looking around for what was at hand to get in some practice ... I've begun to feel superstitious about letting too much time go by without painting something!!
I need to work on getting out my painting things even when other people are around--I'm a closet painter.


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6 comments:

Mineke Reinders said...

I'm a closet painter too... Can't stand to have anyone watching over my shoulder when I'm sketching or painting. Your Saturday watercolors are lovely and fresh. I especially love the way the blue shadows bleed into the fruits, and in particular the lime. Love the beach sketches too. The third one especially! It makes perfect sense to me, even without paint - though I'm curious to see how you'll paint it, too.

Carol said...

Me, too... I'm so self-conscious! That bouquet is just so pretty!

Cathy Gatland said...

I'm trying to come out of the closet, but its hard! What a lovely beach discovery - lovely forms in your drawings, I look forward to seeing them painted. Your deck paintings are little jewels - that's a good superstition to have!

A Brush with Color said...

Wow--these are treasures, Laura. That sounds like an idyllic spot. I am also a closet painter--but if I were (was?) you, I don't think I would be a closet painter!

Joyfulartist said...

Here's another vote for closet painter, or maybe it's just the quiet and not being interupted that I like. I don't mind painting with another group of painters; they generally leave you alone, though. Your results are wonderful, closset or not.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laura,

I thought I said that I loved what you're doing here, but must have meant to and then had to go and do something else. I do. I love the
beach sketches and the paintings.

Wonderful.

Take care,

Barbara