A View From Pacific Coast Hwy.

[Oleeta]

Hi Everyone,

I posted this in The Learning Zone too, because that's what I want to do is to learn more. I've never had any lessons so I'm really doing something I know nothing about. That's never stopped me before though on anything else I've ever tried. Let me know what youthink and how I can improve. This one is done on canvas.

Thanks,

Oleeta

[painterbear]

Hi Oleeta,
Welcome to the Watercolor Forum. This is a very nice seascape, you did a really good job with the cliffs.

Some compositional elements you might think about in future paintings are the horizon line (it should be straight but it appears to slant from right to left here).

Also, the horizon line and the top of the cliff run into one another. This is called a tangent. It would have been better to have the horizon stop a little below the top of the cliff instead of continuing the line. Finally, the line of plants and flowers across the front of the painting stops the viewer's eye from moving into the work. You can have elements like that in a work, but it is best to leave some openings in it.

I must say I am impressed at how well you did painting this on canvas. I only tried using watercolor canvas once and was frustrated by it.

Sylvia

[lpb]

I agree. You captured the ruggedness of the cliffs and they seem to be in correct linear perspective. Open water is hard to master (I certainly haven't, by any stretch) and even harder to get a smooth wash on canvas. I like the misty clouds behind the cliffs. Thanks for posting, I love the Pacific Coast!

[Laura D]

Oleeta! Great work! Another thing you might want to keep in mind is the lighter surf portions will be wider in some areas, imply those rocks uneven bottom! It will also be wider the closer it is to you, almost disappearing by the headland, just a little smudgy mist in that area. Cold water is so hard to paint. Is this up by Eureka? It looks a little like the Ferndale/Honeydew area.