Brant Rock Late Afternoon

Dark Water at the Start

Ocean Street parallels the Atlantic Ocean for a stretch where there are parking spots right above the shore.   It was late in the day but the sun was still high in the June sky and it was illuminating Brant Rock, the jetties, the sand and the beach houses.    There were plumes of jet contrails high in the sky and a deck of pretty lower clouds as well.   

When the clouds sit above the ocean late in the day, the water can look much darker than the overhead blue sky.




Lighter Water Midway

Look what happens next.   The water gradually gets lighter in color as the clouds take over the eastern sky.

The shadows from the cars are more pronounced on the sidewalk.  I needed to make design decisions about the light, but I didn't do it right then and there.   I continued capturing the unique elements such as the Brant Rock tower and even the guardrail.






Pale Gray Water Toward the End

As the clouds continue to fill in to the east, the water gets paler still.   This light gray water version of the scene is so vastly different from the blue summery feeling at the start that I packed up and headed home.


One week later I did a critique, deciding that the long car shadows might be the key to making this painting more interesting.   People who sit along the wall in late afternoon can decide to either be in sun or shadow (most seem to chose sun).   I added the striped effect of the long shadows back in the studio.   The boldest, widest shadow in the foreground is meant to balance the far right elements (people, houses, tower).   Did it do its job?


Brant Rock Late Afternoon

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