Emerald Isle Oasis

8 x 8 Oil on Archival Board

SOLD

There is nothing as comforting as seeing lights shining in a window at night.  It is as if they are beckoning you to come in to safety.  We were fortunate to be able to spend time with our friends at this beautiful beach house before the busy summer season began.  Returning from a walk on the beach at dusk, "our" house was the only one with lights shining, and it looked so lovely.  Just another day in the life.....

Noon at Emerald Isle

12 x 24 Oil on Archival Board

Empty beach, sand, sun, beautiful beach houses, waves crashing, seagulls talking....Ahhhh!  Truly a moment of Zen.  Summer at its finest.  I really find that when I have a passion for a subject, the painting seems to flow.  I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but it's so true, for me at least.  When I was painting this, I really felt like I was placing actual sand on my painting surface rather than paint, and I could feel the softness of the clouds...It's definitely Zen.

End of the Day, Emerald Isle

5 x 7 Oil On Archival Board

 

Looking back from the water towards a beautiful sunset at Emerald Isle...What could be better?!  Wouldn't you like to own one of those beach houses and visit on a whim?  I know I would.  Since it was mid week, most of the houses were empty, but I'm pretty sure as it gets closer to summer they are occupied all the time.  I'm enjoying painting these studies.  They seem to flow and I think it's because the memories are fresh in my mind.  Ever since I began painting, I notice that I automatically try to memorize scenes that interest me.

Cooper Off Leash at the Beach

SOLD

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

This is really a painting of my good friend, Gloria, but I can't paint her without painting that black dot off in the distance...Cooper.  She loves the water more than any other dog I know, and went into the ocean, past the waves.  I was pretty certain she was gone for good, but Gloria and Jim had a lot of faith in her and knew she'd come back.  I wasn't so sure!  As we were walking back, we got stopped by the beach police for having her off leash.  No ticket;  just a warning, but for the rest of the trip, it certainly put a crimp in Cooper's style :-)

Matched Pair

5x7" Oil on Gessobord

Love this one!  I wonder who dressed whom?  (Is that the correct grammar?)  They must have gone shopping when they arrived at the beach and bought identical outfits just in case one of them got lost.  It would be easier to locate the missing partner :-)  I really love trying to figure people out.  You never get it right, but what fun, and how great to have the opportunity to paint them!!

Surf Fishing on Emerald Isle, NC

9 x 12 Oil on Gessoboard

Our friends were nice enough to take a lot of pictures for me when they went to Emerald Isle this year.  I got a lot of mileage out of last year's trip when we were there, so I hoped for more to work on this year.  They came through with lots of good shots.  I will probably do this one again when I have extra time and refine a few things that bother me, but I'm generally happy with it. 

Dog Wash

SOLD
5x7 Oil on Hardboard

Here's Cooper getting a fast spray off after being in the ocean.  I had more fun watching Cooper play in the water, run on the beach, and even get a "warning" about being off leash by the local authorities.  Thanks to our friends, Gloria and Jim, we had a great time at Emerald Isle, and I have lots of memories to paint.