Dune Studies - Painting in the Hamptons

Here are three of the dune studies I did through the week in the Hamptons. 

I picked these images to post because they show an interesting progression (and least it's interesting to me).  I found myself challenged to develop compositions from a landscape that was dominated by clumpy/spotty lumps of grasses.  These three images show how I developed a handling of this situation with greater and greater simplification along with taking bolder risks in altering the shapes to create interesting ways for the viewer's eye to move into and through the painting.

Dune Study I
Pastel
8x10

Dune Study II
Pastel
9x12

 

 

 

 

Dune Study III
Pastel
12x16

Now I have to make some time to get down to Carmel and give this subject a try down there.

Next Up - Painting Dunes

I've been in the Hamptons (Amagansett, NY) this week and I've been taking the opportunity to work on studies of rolling dunes.  This is a subject I've never spent any time on, but I've always admired the way Terri Ford and Kim Lordier have handled the subject (they are typically painting Carmel, CA).

Amagansett has it's own unique flavor, and I've been setting out at dawn most days to see what I can come up with.  Stay tuned - I'll post images when I get back to my studio.