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 .