Ocean piece from plein air study

Here's an piece I just completed in the studio ...

"Pacific Shimmer", Pastel, 12x16

 ... using this plein air study:

"Coastal Repetitions", Pastel, 9x12
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My goal was to try shifting the focus away from the bright rocks and move the focus out further into the painting.  I wanted to highlight the water and pull the eye out towards the horizon.  About half way into the painting I put the plein air reference aside.  It's interesting to see the extent to which they organically deviated from each other as I let the painting go where it needed to go on its own.