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Tuesday 22 November 2011

Summer storms

There have been some quite rough seas of late, as there are every autumn. The evidence is left on the shore, lots of broken up driftwood, cuttlefish and quite a few mermaid's purses (sounds prettier than dogfish egg cases) and I've found lots of whelk shells. There's also been quite a lot of seaweed washed up that I'm told is usually only seen in deep water. All of this will I'm sure be subjects for future paintings except that I'm so caught up in skies that it may be some time before I get to them.


Summer Storm I
watercolour on paper 15x15cm
©2011 Lisa Le Quelenec


These two paintings have been a continuation of my grey and black experiments, this time mixing up neutral tint, ivory black and weak additions of cobalt turquoise. (there may have been a touch of raw sienna too.) I've been trying to capture the stillness and silence that descends just before a storm breaks. The gulls glide along thermals seeming to anticipate the heavy weather that is about to descend. Summer storms of which we had a few are always stickier, the heat feels oppressive but they are magical as well in the speed in which they build. The relief once the rain has fallen is exhilarating and then just as suddenly as it appeared it's gone and the blue summer skies are back.

Summer Storm II
watercolour on paper 15x15cm
©2011 Lisa Le Quelenec

Both of these paintings are for sale in my Etsy store .

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9 comments:

  1. Lydie22 November 2011 at 22:44

    I am more than pleasantly blown away by the rendering of gray, a great force in the expression of the storm coming. I find it excellent.

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  2. RH Carpenter22 November 2011 at 23:28

    Excellent is definitely the word for both of these paintings!

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  3. Caroline Simmill22 November 2011 at 23:40

    Very dramatic and excellent handling of the watercolour medium Lisa.

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  4. Anonymous23 November 2011 at 07:59

    Lisa, love both of these......

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  5. Unknown23 November 2011 at 08:44

    Wonderful atmospheric paintings, Lisa. I love your description of the oncoming storm - I'm quite familiar now with the infamous Bournemouth summer cloudbursts :)

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  6. BrandNewStudio23 November 2011 at 10:48

    Wonderful

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  7. Bruce Sherman23 November 2011 at 11:53

    Hi there Lisa!... And who said greys can't render power and drama?

    You've singlehandedly removed those doubts in these two moody... frenetic summer storm depictions.

    So much said... with so little. Or as the Japanese say:

    It is what remains unsaid... that speaks loudest.

    That is certainly true here! Great work!

    Thanks for your sharing at my site regaring veteran treatment! Much appreciated!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  8. Vandy23 November 2011 at 15:09

    How wonderfully dramatic these are. Their simplicity gives them immense impact. And what an effective use of grey. Love these.

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  9. Lisa Le Quelenec26 November 2011 at 09:27

    Good morning Lydie, thank you so much!

    Hi Rhonda, thank you. I'm looking forward to seeing your postcards.

    Hello Caroline, thanks. I'm enjoying grey so much.

    Thank you Maggie!

    They can be quite drenching can't they Michael! Thank you.

    Hello Skizo, thank you.

    Morning Bruce, thank you. I've enjoyed exploring the tension Of grey. I think there are more on the way.

    Hello Vandy, thank you very much.

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