First Encounter

20" x 60" Acrylic on Canvas
Currently on exhibition at the Providence Art Club through February 1st, 2013.

Since I received a good deal of positive feedback on last month's process steps, I have included them for this painting as well.  The painting was based off a plein air sketch and photos taken at First Encounter Beach in Eastham, MA during August of 2011.  A tremendous storm came over the bay and this view was about a half hour before bone chilling lighting and thunder hit our area.  The original intent was to have a few of the beach folk painted in, but I decided to omit them half way through the painting process.  The painting appeared to be a stronger statement of nature's awesomeness without us humans messing up the view.  The studio painting took about 40 hours to complete.

Plein air sketch done onsite

Blank canvas

My palette with old but wet paint to tone my canvas

Toned canvas in Cadmium Orange and Burnt Sienna 

Vine charcoal sketch with tape line to mark the horizon

First block in of the clouds

Softening and lightening

Skyholes and "God Rays" added

Blocking in of the land masses

Birds, flotsam and water "glistening" added