Trow Rock from the Dunes

[JJWilliamson]

Oil on canvas, 50 x 40 cms. On May 4th, this year, I was confronted by the most exciting sea I'd seen for many a year off the coast at South Shields. An onshore wind and high tide conspired to give a show of unprecedented proportions. I tried to catch something of the action but it was a tough ask. I took 57 photos of South Shields main beach and Marsden Bay. There will be four paintings in the series by the time I've finished.

I've placed a couple of figures on the main rock and reduced the size of the gulls to suggest scale. Revision on top.

Trow Rock from the Dunes - revised 23 05 2019 002 (resized 525 px).jpg (118.38 KiB) Viewed 5771 times

Trow Rock from the Dunes 22 05 2019 002 (resized 550 pix).jpg (118.76 KiB) Viewed 5797 times

[Pauline]

I must dander over to this place.
You make it look and sound amazing.
I look forward to seeing your series of 4 paintings

[JJWilliamson]

I must dander over to this place.
You make it look and sound amazing.
I look forward to seeing your series of 4 paintings

Thank you very much, Pauline for the kind comments. Always appreciated.

The biggest problem for me with this sort of scene is the static nature of the waves and my familiarity with the area. In reality
the turmoil is quite overwhelming and it's really difficult to get this across to the viewer. Still, there are a couple of pointers
along the way, such as the staggering amount of white water, an unprecedented amount, in fact, and the wave action.

Normally, the beach would be very visible, even at high tide, but on this day, the beach, which holds thousands of people during the long
summer months, has all but gone. I can't remember seeing white water from the far rocks to the dunes before.

The main rock looks quite small but is actually a line of high cliffs, from which we used to cliff dive as young'ns. (not from the top, though )
This means that the central wave, the one that is about to break, is about ten feet high. The distance from the action makes
a difference but I wanted to get so much into the painting to show the scale of it all. I might, no, I will, include a couple of figures
at the top of Trow Rock to indicate some scale for the casual viewer. That's not a bad idea, if I can find a suitable pic.

I'm painting four, possibly five or six, to try and show how the waves varied and I'm hoping the series will work better as a whole.

Thanks for taking a gander and special thanks for yesterday's astute critique.

Delighted to see you back on the forum.

Best

JJ

[Pauline]

I will, include a couple of figures
at the top of Trow Rock to indicate some scale for the casual viewer.

That has certainly made a difference JJ.
I can now appreciate the scale of the waves.
The ferocity of the sea.

Thanks for taking a gander and special thanks for yesterday's astute critique.

I'm cringing.
I wish you hadn't seen that.
You caught the tail end of my "I'm taking no more shit off anyone" mood.
I was so looking forward to seeing your painting.
I love your stuff.
You posted a piece you were obviously proud of and I stomped all over it.
I offered nothing in constructive criticism.
There was no positives offered.
I'm really sorry.

[JJWilliamson]

Thanks for getting back to me, Pauline. Appreciated.

I will, include a couple of figures
at the top of Trow Rock to indicate some scale for the casual viewer.

That has certainly made a difference JJ.
I can now appreciate the scale of the waves.
The ferocity of the sea. ...Ah, that's good to know. I think the larger gulls didn't help.

Thanks for taking a gander and special thanks for yesterday's astute critique.

I'm cringing.
I wish you hadn't seen that.
You caught the tail end of my "I'm taking no more shit off anyone" mood.
I was so looking forward to seeing your painting.
I love your stuff.
You posted a piece you were obviously proud of and I stomped all over it.
I offered nothing in constructive criticism. ...But you DID! If you hadn't mentioned that the scale wasn't apparent I wouldn't have reduced the size of the gulls, nor would I have included the figures. I genuinely don't mind tinkering about with certain aspects of a painting, at least not these days now that my confidence is a bit higher. Paintings are a bit like poems. Revision can work wonders and it can ruin a poem/painting. Both can be fixed, though.
There was no positives offered.
I'm really sorry. ...Please don't give it another thought.

Best

JJ

[Pauline]

Phew.
I'm so pleased you didn't take offence JJ.
I would never do that intentionally.
I will say those subtle changes have made a difference

[JJWilliamson]

Nee botha!

J

[Pauline]

You are so canny.
Thanks for that