Sunlit rocks and sea spray at Hazard Rock
I really wanted to continue practicing painting waves this weekend. My daughter suggested Bass Rock but the parking was full. So I went to Hazard Rock just a block north up the road.
Hazard Rock was a favorite spot of mine in my twenties for snorkeling and scuba diving.
As the afternoon went by, the warm sunlit rocks looked stunning against the cool sky. The waves created air bubbles making the water a minty green where the waves crashed into the rocks. While the sky was a simple blue with puffy white clouds when I arrived, you can see how dramatic it was getting by the late afternoon. Unfortunately I don’t paint fast enough yet to be able to arrive closer to sunset and capture the entire scene. I started this painting around noon with the sun nearly overhead. So the colors in my painting are not as warm as picture taken here in the late afternoon. This study does help me set the picture in my mind so that I can do a studio version of the later.
Since I basically spent my childhood in the south on boats, and I have the sun spots to prove it, I now try to protect my skin. These days I really enjoy shade, especially outside painting for several hours. I love this Best Brella I purchased last month. No sunburn and accurate colors! Of course I have already bent one pole – lesson learned to weight my tripod with my backpack on windy days! I found it here at Best Brella Store.
I love the sound of the waves crashing on the rocky shore
I can’t seem to get the color to adjust correctly for this iPhone photo I took in the shade. The water isn’t quite this turquoise, more of a sea foam green. I am still working on how to best capture waves alla prima. It is hard to keep whites pure working on top of wet paint. I also need to work on a finer brush technique to capture the spray. Getting there though! Practice makes perfect and it is such a relaxing way to spend the day.
Hazard Rock is one of several public access points along the rocky shoreline between Narragansett Beach and Scarborough beach. A favorite spot for fisherman, there is limited parking and no facilities.
Supplies:
Fredrix Pro Linen Panel 8×10
Daniel Smith Water Soluble Oils: French Ultramarine, Cyan Blue, Titanium White, Cadium Yellow Medium
Cobra Water Soluble Oils: Pthalo green, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre
Duo Cobalt Turquoise
Gamblin Solvent Free Gel
