The Beach 2

Acrylic on 11x14 canvas

This is my second attempt at Sunset Beach. The first time, I painted along with the video. This time, I painted from the reference photo keeping all of Richard's tips and techniques in mind.

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Albums: Workshop43

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Comment by Susan Burke on June 5, 2015 at 12:30: Thanks, Ningning!

Comment by Ningning Li on June 5, 2015 at 11:54: Susan, I follow what Lori said, Beautiful !!!

Comment by Susan Burke on June 2, 2015 at 11:21: Thank you, Lori! I enjoyed working on this one!

Comment by Lori Ippolito on June 2, 2015 at 6:03: Wow Susan!! Love this. Your sand is wonderful as is the glowing light in the cliffs..and you managed that path so well!

Comment by Silvana M Albano on May 30, 2015 at 11:40: Super! I've saved the online editor as well...

Comment by Susan Burke on May 29, 2015 at 2:50: Richard, Thank you so much! The lightened version does look very close to what I have on my canvas. I can see that your critique is right on. I knew I had to gray down the land in the distance; and I did realize that there was something off; but, I didn't know what--the horizon and the waves....I can see it in my mind's eye now! Thanks again, I love these workshops. Can't wait to sign up for the next one!

Comment by Richard Robinson on May 28, 2015 at 12:37: This looks great Susan. The photo was too dark so here's an edited version:

I used a free online image editor to change the levels and lighten the whole image. See the free editor here: www.apps.pixlr.com/editor/

I opened the image, chose Adjustment > Levels and then pulled the right hand slider left to the edge of the curves. This is a common adjustment I make to photos of paintings that have been taken in the shade. I usually use Photoshop to do this but this free online software does the same job.

Anyway, you've got a lovely glowing effect happening here with a everything getting lighter and warmer as it approaches the sun. Nice job. You could perhaps have gone even lighter where the sun would be with white and a touch of bright yellow. Your drawing of the cliffs is very good but you could have done a little better in the distance by leveling and straightening the horizon and making the waves reduce in size as they recede from us. Also the most distant hills could do with being a little lighter to help them recede further. Other than that it's very good, especially considering it's painted in acrylics which make it more difficult to achieve soft atmospheric effects due to their quick drying time. Good job.

Comment by Nancy Sands on May 28, 2015 at 5:54: I did not see the first one, but really like this one. Good for you for I,proving with two.

Comment by Susan Burke on May 28, 2015 at 5:40: Thanks, Jon. I'm thinking of graying and lightening the far hills a bit to make them recede more---I just get nervous about going back to a painting...and at best over-working it; and at worst ruining it (which I've done before)!