| The Pirates' Cove © Marian Fortunati 8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel |
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| Click on the link above for additional details. |
I paint fairly often at Leo Carrillo Beach
State Park. It is a beautiful beach on the north end of the Malibu
coastline in Southern California.
The weather changes. The seas are sometimes stormy and sometimes calm and the rock formations are varied so that wherever you decide to paint, there is a different scene to create.
One time after I had been painting at Leo Carrillo, my father called me up to tell me that Hewell Houser was doing a program about Leo Carrillo Beach State Park. Apparently Carrillo was the set of many old movies... (Many giant mutated crabs attacked the world over those coastal rocks!) I also learned by watching Hewell Houser's program that below where I had generally been painting, there are a series of caves that are referred to as the pirate caves. So on this day, I went in search of them.... And found the caves and the cove beyond.
The weather changes. The seas are sometimes stormy and sometimes calm and the rock formations are varied so that wherever you decide to paint, there is a different scene to create.
One time after I had been painting at Leo Carrillo, my father called me up to tell me that Hewell Houser was doing a program about Leo Carrillo Beach State Park. Apparently Carrillo was the set of many old movies... (Many giant mutated crabs attacked the world over those coastal rocks!) I also learned by watching Hewell Houser's program that below where I had generally been painting, there are a series of caves that are referred to as the pirate caves. So on this day, I went in search of them.... And found the caves and the cove beyond.
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| George, Maria, Annette and Diane getting ready for lunch. |
The Malibu / Ventura Chapter of the
California Art Club held its monthly paint out at Leo Carrillo on
Wednesday. I was eager to go so I could enjoy winter along
California's beautiful coastline. Although the forecasters and
predicted cold weather and clouds, it was moderate and clear. --
Actually it was quite beautiful. There weren't a lot of painters at
the event this time... they probably thought it would be too cold but we
all enjoyed ourselves anyway.
I decided to find the pirate caves. I
climbed over large mounds of built up seaweed and lots of rocks and
found the caves. Then I went through a big one and emerged on the
other side to find a beautiful little cove where the wet sand was
reflecting the cliffs beyond. My heart did that little pitter patter
thing that happens when a painter finds "the spot". I knew I had to
paint it.
While I was busy painting, I left my salad
which was in a bag in a plastic container next to a thick jacket on a
rock (before the seaweed piles and rocks and the cave. It's the
seagulls that were the pirates!! They pecked through the plastic
container and stole all of the chicken out of my salad. -- No
worries... I had lots of cabbage and lettuce to eat with my friends
when we all broke for lunch.
7 people commented. Comments mean a lot. THANKS!:
Lovely painting with a great story! Sounds like the caves were the way to go.
Here at -5F in the snow, nobody goes out painting except perhaps Stape...
Love the shadows and the gorgeous water colors you've achieved, Marian. So glad the gulls left you something to eat for lunch! And I must say your day does indeed look beautiful!
Hi Susan and Sherry...
I have to say that I am SOOO glad to live in California because I do love to paint outdoors... (AND because, although I adore Stapleton Kearns, I could not paint in his snow camp class.)
I have to say though that I'm in San Francisco for a California Art Club conference this weekend and I now totally understand Mark Twain's quote saying, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." (and it's winter... so imagine..)
tee hee pirate seagulls, fabulous image like your beautiful painting.
Re goals I think the majority of your goals are measurable items like paint en plain air 3x. The others are expressed wishes - says the woman whose goals for the year are based on 3 words - focus vision produce - how vague are they?!
This is a gorgeous, captivating scene, Marian! I love the tonal variations and the way the colors play and dance against each other.
Sue... I guess each of us should set our goals in the form that means the most to us, but I do kind of agree that for me some "by when" goals and a bit more specificity would be useful.
Thanks!
Thank you Mary... I really appreciate your encouragement!!!!
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