July, glorious July!
This is what we wait for all through the snowy cold winter and cool wet spring. And July of 2011 has not disappointed.
We have had some quintessential Cape Cod weather. The beaches are spectacular with blue skies, bright blue water, light breezes, and shimmering sand. The marshes are lush summer green, and the days are long. As an oil painter, there is much to inspire.
There is a visual cornucopia, but you may not know that artists use all their senses in translating from head to canvas.
The sound of the ocean surf helps stimulate an artistic notion of pounding waves. The gentle shush of beach grass swaying in the breeze conveys a sense of calm as we work to capture those delicate movements. The sensation of summer sun on our skin prods us to incorporate warmer colors into our palette.
Even the smell of sun tan lotion, salt air, and fried clams is inspiring, reminding us why so many flock to this beautiful spit of land and encouraging us to be true to the Cape Cod we all love.
The artist is a receptacle for the emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web. ~Pablo Picasso