Low Tide at Prospect

The bay was calm like glass and the tide was really out when I started. During the painting, a brisk onshore breeze set up and the tide came roaring back in. The gentle swell from the ocean met the equally gentle outflow from the harbour. The odd fishing boat came back into port and the black ducks and gulls kept me company. I will paint here again.

Water mixable oil is not a great medium for plein air painting. The paint changed from buttery to gluey as I worked. Whether this was the result of the sun and the wind or the humidity, it is difficult to tell without further exploration – something that I don’t care to do. The work was successful but I don’t enjoy painting with glue.

When I was virtually finished, the painting blew off the easel. Water splashed on the canvas and I got gravel from the wharf into the paint. I grinned and packed it up and left my supplies on Eleanor’s back porch. I started back to Shad Bay by following the 5 or 6 kilometre path along the ocean through the Barrens. It was a wonderful hike. The shoreline was littered with the remains of lobster pots, wood and ropes.
Water mixable oils on acrylic burnt sienna tinted 16x20 stretched canvas.