Cool Greenish Morning - St Pete Beach

There is a main thoroughfare that runs north/south along the interior shore (east side) of the St Pete Beach barrier island called Pass-A-Grille Way.   Conveniently, the parking and the sidewalk are right along the inlet where I saw dolphins, pelicans and all kinds of egrets.  It was early when I set up to paint and the shore of the "mainland" was barely visible because of the mist.   

A walker who lives nearby told me that the foreground dock that I was painting had just been completed when Hurricane Milton hit.   There was enough damage (and more pressing repairs on the island,) that it remains unusable - that is - unless you are painting it. haha  The dock beyond the closest pier is the functioning Merry Dock and that is where the Miss Pass-A-Grille fishing boat was docked.   Luckily that boat did not move while I painted.   

As for the painting process, I tried to stay true to the misty morning, making sure that everything had a greenish tinge to it.   If I had had chromium green with me, it would have been useful, but instead I made do with Sap Green, Viridian, and Emerald.   The seagulls and pelicans were also very cooperative!

Merry Dock

Happy Days

Of the many lobster boats that chug in and out to sea via the Green Harbor River, the one that is always most recognizable to me is "Happy Days".   I always loved the dazzling reflections from the afternoon sun on the shiny, bright, crimson bow.   Usually a trail of seabirds can be seen escorting the vessel as it entered the channel.   I'm thinking these seagulls on the shore have heard the racket and are on their way to join the party too!

Happy Days

Jamaican Fisherman

Jamaican Fisherman

Where there is water, there is fishing.  On vacation in Jamaica we noticed that just like in New England, the fishermen are out early and most of the fishing we saw looked something like this scene.  There would be a small, crusty boat with one or two fishermen in the shallows working with nets.  

As for the painting, the vivid turquoise of the water was dazzling bright and it seemed to illuminate - even exaggerate the figure.  This painting was done over a bright orange undertone which was meant to compliment the flesh tones. 

Two Megs - 2

I like all things "fish."  I'm a Pisces; I truly am "that" in a lot of ways. Ha ha. I eat fish often - usually 3-4 times a week.  I love to swim.   I crave being at the ocean, yet I am enthralled with all water related scenes.   

A favorite painting subject is fishing and fishing boats.  Does it stem from my being a Pisces or is it my ancestral Newfoundland fishing family roots?  Maybe both together?

Anyhow, I painted this exact scene a couple of years ago en plein air, and it sold right away so I decided to enjoy it again, this time from the photo.  The historic and enormous Boston Fish pier is the backdrop and the fishing boat called "Two Megs" in the foreground is picking up the sunshine.

Two Megs II