Plien air beginning

I did preliminary sketches for “Window on Pine Island” plein air, and followed up with photos. The actual painting was done at home.

I was captivated by the light on the water and the trees that surrounded this scene. There was an actual wooden plank walkway that started at a nearby house, traveled across the lawn where a chaise lounge awaited, and then past a tall cabbage palm and an old southern oak. The walkway continued on to water’s edge.

I was struck by the roughness of the palm bark, the gnarled trunk of the old oak, and how the bark trapped the afternoon sunlight in its jagged folds providing a framework for the boats in the distance.

“Window on Pine Island” is an oil painting on 16x20x1-3/8” wrap canvas. A frame may be used, but is not required. There's also a great restaurant nearby with some fantastic clam chowder!