Painting Timelapse: "Hidden Footsteps Through The Sea"
This particular evening I visited Gwithian beach in the hopes of catching a vibrant sunset. Instead as I began to park the clouds drew in quick and the colours everywhere became really subdued but seemed to gently glow with a lovely warmth. That’s what I started out wanting to capture in this painting.
As I painted I became drawn to the burnt orange singing through the broken brushstrokes of the turquoise in the waves. It created that warm glow I felt, but also began to show me there’s a beauty in leaving some things in a painting unresolved, letting the eye piece together the painting.
I wouldn’t say I really plan my paintings. I enjoy the freedom, surprises and discovery you find once you set off with a painting. It’s like the next footstep - the next brushstroke - only reveals itself once you’ve taken the first step.
With this painting I became fascinated by the upward brushstrokes of the sky and the downward brushstrokes of the land showing through from the underpainting. It was these brushstrokes that gave me the pathway and story into this painting. The sky and land leaning into the horizon with that soft glow orange- it felt as though it was gently beckoning to take step forward, even though the vast sea was in front obscuring the way. It’s why I named this painting, ‘Hidden Footsteps Through The Sea.’