Thursday, December 27, 2007

Sunset on the Beach


I spent one evening on the beach watching the sunset. The colors were really incredible. I took probably 4 or 5 dozen photos trying out the various settings on my camera that I never use.

One of the settings uses a long exposure -- which I didn't know. I clicked the shutter, it opened, and didn't close. Thinking there was something wrong with the camera, I started shaking it. Then the shutter closed and I realized what had happened. Doofus.

My first reaction was to delete the photo. Instead, I thought it might be interesting to leave the shutter open, and shake the camera side-to-side (intentionally) just enough to blur the details. I got a bunch of photos with really luscious sunset colors in horizontal bands. Very abstract, very soft. They'd make great paintings.

This ACEO is based on that evening. I painted it the next day from memory of that great sunset. Painting on location is something new for me. I'm insecure about doing it yet but am working on it.


It's watercolor on woven paper which gives it that great texture.

Read about the supplies I took along.



2 comments:

John Dyhouse said...

This is wonderful - really love this fella. tried sketching sunsets lots of times but never quite managed to capture the feelings as you have here.

John

lifeneedsart said...

Thanks, John, that's kind of you!

The sunset was so stunning, it was actually overwhelming. I sat for what -- 30 minutes? 60 minutes? -- soaking up the colors until the last drop was gone.

--Karen