Early early.

 "Yaquina Head Lighthouse from Agate Beach"

11 x 14 inches, oil on canvas

One of my favorite things to do at the coast is run on the beach. Early. The light is so spectacular at sunrise. Instead of running this morning, I dragged my gear out onto the beach (not a short hike), optimistically planted my umbrella in the sand, and began to paint. Well, the light - and the umbrella - didn't last long. But I got this down on canvas before I was forced to flee by the advancing sun.

After wading back through the rapidly drying sand, I retreated to town for coffee and breakfast!

 Painting with subject, taken well after I'd gotten the intial light/shadow realtionships down.

...And in case I haven't made you Oregon-coast-jealous enough: my lonely easel on the sunrise-washed beachscape: 

 

To The Lighthouse

"The Lighthouse at Yaquina Head"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

Sold

I wanted to watch the sunset out at Yaquina Head last night, and it cost me seven bucks to get my car through the gate! A seven dollar sunset? And a drizzly one at that! 

This morning I was determined to get my seven dollars' worth (it was a 3 day parking pass), and boy did I!

Here's my work-in-progress:

 

Ok, I haven't really started yet, but setting up my easel, palette, and brushes sure feels like the progress of work to me! I suppose this photo is of the planning phase.

And here's everyone's favorite phase: the happy painter. Finito!