Thursday 9 February 2012

From the cliff top

From the cliff top
acrylic on paper 15.5x18cm
©2011 Lisa Le Quelenec

I stood on the cliff top on Monday watching the texture trail made by a lazy current. At around 9am the sun was shining so weakly through thickish grey cloud that it looked like a white disk, a hard outline like a paper cut out. There was no wind but it was cold. Below, on the beach, a dog walker was throwing a ball into the sea for his labrador to go fetch. The dog was enjoying the game and didn't seem to notice what must have been very cold water. It seemed like they were the only moving things and everything else was just waiting for the cold to pass.

I enjoy painting the silver greys of winter and used a very limited palette for this one of buff titanium, indigo, indanthrene blue and zinc white. I wanted to capture the stillness, like a pause before spring arrives.

9 comments:

Vandy said...

I really love the mood of this painting. It captures the stillness beautifully. Lovely palette - I think that contributes really well to the atmosphere. It just works.

Judy said...

Wonderful how you created depth! I love the atmosphere of the painting!

Caroline Simmill said...

Love it, this is a real gem of a painting that sparkle on the sea, beautiful. Works perfectly for me!

Anonymous said...

Very nice, it feels bigger than it is!

Bruce Sherman said...

Good morning Lisa!... You have certainly captured the essence of what you set out to achieve! There is a wonderfully peaceful stillness in this piece... which distills peace and tranquility!

Limited palette? So much cyber talk/banter these days about this topic. What is often "limited" behind most palettes... is the understanding by the user... as how to use the palette. Not the case... ever... with your work Lisa!

Do continue to enjoy your explorations... as much as we enjoy seing the outcome of those adventures!

Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce

RH Carpenter said...

Soft and cool colors bring this one to a muted life, serene, calm, lovely, with wonderful sparkles and a touch of warming pink :)

Dan Gliubizzi said...

Hi Lisa, Thanks for visiting my site and leading me to yours. Beautiful work with unique compositional qualities. I look forward to seeing more

Roger Seddon said...

Hi Lisa,still here, following your blog passively and enjoying your work. I am heavily involved with oils at present and working on traditional landscapes. Also preparing for DAW 2012 in June. Please email me when you would like a second day out together sketching. Roger x

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

Morning Vandy, thank you very much!

Hi Judy, thank you. I think it's the whole hazy in focus out of focus. I spent quite a long time just watching.

Hello Caroline, thank you.

Thanks Maggie, I'm wondering if it would transfer to a large canvas size. Sometimes they do sometimes they don't. I went for a small format to 'get it down more quickly' before the feeling had gone. I might have a go larger but then I could lose the scale if you know what I mean.

Wow Bruce! Thank you very much. I think I tend to think more tonally and in tone contrasts so I only tend to use a few colours in each painting. I do have a large colour choice to chose from though and at the last count ten blues which maybe a little excessive.... I think the fewer colours I have the harder I have to work and I like a challenge.

Hi Rhonda, thank you. Our little moment of calm.

Hello Dan, thank you, welcome and what a lovely surprise. I will be visiting you blog regularly. The lovely thing is that for now I can have a catch up on your previous posts.

Hello Roger, it's funny I was thinking of you the other day and wondering how you were getting on. Is your new website up and running yet? I know they take ages to sort but when it is be sure to send me the link so I can add it in my sidebar. I'm looking forward to seeing your new work.

It will be more sketching weather soon and it would be lovely to meet up soon and catch up.