Surge at Shaws Cove

The surf has been larger than normal for the last couple of weeks. One thing I have been working on in my plein air paintings is trying to depict the water in a more dynamic manner.  In observing water there has to be an intense focus on picking the same moment wave after wave if you want to make an accurate statement.  At the point when a wave is breaking in one location, it is doing a lot of different things in a lot of other places.  I am trying to make a point to observe the water in all the areas of the seascape at the moment in the surge I am trying to paint.  

I wanted to make sure to get the detail of the dark areas in the rocks before the light changed.

The lightest and darkest areas of the painting have been established.

As I was painting, a large wave washed over my set up.  Everything got wet and I scrambled to limit the damage.  My camera, pastels, and backpack all got wet.  My easel again showed it's stability and sturdiness.  

Pastels and water do not mix.  The limited binder which helps create the vibrancy also makes them vulnerable.  The littlest amount of water added to a pastel dissolves them into pigment mud.

My supplies found refuge on some nearby steps.

Surge at Shaws Cove 24"X 24" soft pastel on plywood over acrylic under painting.

A value study of Surge at Shaws Cove

Detail of Surge at Shaws Cove