Painting at Te Arai Point

The kids holidays ended today so I took my leave and a friend and went exploring down the coast and found this amazing place called Te Arai Point. You can see the little figure in the foreground there to give it some scale - we ended the day by jumping off the left hand rock there into the gap. The jump was about 4-5 metres high (enough to give you the willies) and the water was about 2.5m deep (8 feet).

Again pushing ahead with the acrylics. What I discovered today is that if I want to get the wet in wet effects of oil paints with these acrylics outdoors (and I do) I'm going to need to get some pre-tubed grays because most of the mixing time is spent trying to gray down these very vibrant acrylic colours. It's something to try anyway.

I had a good friend make this frame for me (below) which I think is great, and I put my most recent travel studies in it over the fire place when I get home. It's a real treat to see it framed so quickly because I feel it really just finishes the painting off.

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Comment by Amanda Jones on February 7, 2012 at 11:15: Just love this piece so vibrant. I also paint in acrylics but I have yet to try plein air. I paint quite fast so I am hoping I will be able to handle it. Everyone who paints outdoors seems to love it so that is my goal for this year. I live in a beautiful part of the world so no excuses!

Comment by Richard Robinson on February 5, 2012 at 10:12: Yes they were the Golden Open Acrylics, but I'm currently trying out lots of different brands till I settle on one.

Comment by Catherine Spencer on February 5, 2012 at 7:05: You must paint fast. Actrylics? Really? Were they the new 'open' acrylics i have been hearing about?

Comment by Rose Herczeg on February 5, 2012 at 4:33: Wow, you amaze me every time. The water is just gorgeous... I live in Florida and have never seen such colors. What a dream to be there! You are so lucky to have such beautiful surroundings!

Comment by barbara grazer on February 2, 2012 at 8:38: Love this...the colors are beautiful..and my eye is drawn from the beach along the wall and out to sea. I also have noticed while using acrylic paint that I have to use a little gray in some of the brightest colors or else the painting looks a little cartoonish..