Painting at Daisy Bay, Tutukaka

[Richard Robinson]

"Daisy Bay" 10x8" Oil on Canvas Board

 

Daisy Bay, Tutukaka, New Zealand

 

Hi All, I'm on a wee holiday with the family and took a few hours out to do this little 10x8" of one of my all time favorite bays in the world. This is called Daisy Bay by the locals. It's fairly inaccessible, requiring a very steep hill descent or a rock climbing adventure around the shoreline at low tide. Thankfully it's this fact that keeps this beach an ideal secluded spot, not that many beaches in New Zealand actually get crowded by European standards though, where you often have to PAY for a spot on the beach. Yesterday we took the kids down there and walked to the far end where we explored all the rock pools and caves. We also gave them a taste of snorkeling which was neat to teach them like my father taught me.

 

What I learned again in this  painting is something that is becoming clearer with each new piece - it's the simple idea that I'm not here just to capture the essence of a scene, or what it means to me, but I'm also here to make a beautifully interesting paint surface. As much as I would like to render everything I see in convincing detail, it's also my goal as a painter to make every stroke and color combination sing freely of how joyfully and effortlessly it was applied to the canvas. Of course it takes a lot of effort to make things look effortless, but that's the journey.

 

Not a bad painting spot eh!? By hokey by jingo!!

 

 

The questions I'm asking myself while painting are something like, 'How do I paint this item in convincing detail while not using a small brush to spell it out to the audience?" "How do I paint this as simply as possible, but retain the complexity of texture and colour?" "How can I say the most with the least?" "How can I imbue a few strokes of paint with the energy and majesty of the scene I am experiencing?". That sort of thing.

 

I don't think that this painting has really done this place the justice it clearly deserves, but at least I enjoyed painting it, so much so that 3 hours seemed somehow to disappear right under my brush. I've left the painting as a small thankyou to the folks whose house we were borrowing on top of the hill these past 3 days, so hopefully they'll like it when they find it on their dining table tomorrow. :-) Paintings make great gifts.

 

All the best with your painting everyone.

Regards, Richard.

 

 

[Randy Fanger]

I've looked at this one many times...I love it.  My favorite 2 things are the land and sky way in back, and the water color from yel-green to sea-foam to teal.  I think the finished version is on Lightscapes.

[Karlo Bonacic]

When i saw this one first moment it remind me that Richard said somewhere that he dont use green tube...

then I remember that blue + yellow makes green. Thanks  Richard !

[Richard Robinson]

Thanks Guys, the palette was Pthalo Blue, Alizarine Crimson, Cad Orange, Cad Yellow Light and Titanium White.

[aram b habit]

Hi Richard, as always it is awesome, I think the pallet colors is ultramarine blue, cad red, yellow ocher and titanium white...

[Merv Appleton]

Great work Richard, I'm sure the owners will appreciate your painting.