At first sight, Shine Tidelands State Park is not very impressive. Just off the West end of the Hood Canal Bridge, a rutted gravel road takes you to a neglected rest area next to a windswept beach where one or two figures hunched against the wind are walking their dogs.
But it made a good subject for a painting last Friday. Wrapped up against the cold and blustery day, I made a small plein air painting of the marsh that lies between the beach and the bluff. I’d never noticed this marsh before, but once I really looked at the scene, it popped out at me. I painted it pink to emphasize it.
Later, back in the studio, I expanded this small painting into a full-size 16 x 20 inch watercolor. I’m going to submit this pair of paintings into the Winter Show of Plein Air Washington Artists. Here is the full-size painting with the smaller plein air painting below it.
The pink and purple looks very good in these photos!
Thanks, Guy. The pink marsh seems a little unusual but I think it’s a good way to draw attention to it.
Beautiful. I’m glad you’re submitting them to the show. I hope that works out well.
Thanks, Warren. I’m hopeful that I’ll be juried into the show, but they say different judges have different preferences, so you never know. I imagine it will be one of few watercolors that are submitted (most will be oil paintings), so that may give me an edge.