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Monday, October 23, 2006

The Path to Nauset Beach #2

The Path to Nauset Beach #2
8" x 10" coloured pencil on Strathmore Bristol Vellum
copyright Katherine Tyrrell

This my second attempt to work up a sketch of the boardwalk path down to Nauset Beach which I did last month when I was in Cape Cod.

You can see a copy of my "Travels with a Sketchbook" blog entry for the day I made the sketch here "Sunday 10th September: Cape Cod National Foreshore".

This is the original sketch. My note says that it's timed at 5.50pm and, as I indicate in the blog post
The early evening light was giving a marvellous colour to the grasses and beach roses and the shadow of the fence was making interesting coloured patterns on the path and in the grasses.
In addition I also noted that
On early Sunday evening, the sea was looking an incredible navy blue colour and I wondered whether this was anything to do with Hurricane Ernesto which had been winding down and moving north the previous week. Nauset Beach has suffered very badly from coastal erosion in the past particularly after heavy seas associated with hurricanes. According to the website of the Nauset Light Preservation Society.....

"...the average natural erosion rate on the Atlantic Ocean side of Cape Cod had been 3.8 feet a year. However, in the area of Nauset Light, the average for the period 1987-1994 has accelerated to 5.8 feet. There may be little or no erosion in some years, and more than fifteen feet in other years."
The drawing was developed from the sketch and photographs I took at the time - both sitting and standing - which basically means the perspective is a bit more accurate in this drawing. Photography has a part to play in recording the way our landscape changes, but in my opinion, drawing and painting the ever changing landscape are also equally important. I wondered what this view will look like if I sketch it again in 10 years time.......

I used Strathmore Bristol Vellum 300 series 100lb for the drawing, which I've not used before. I found it was less smooth and had more of a tooth than the HP papers that I'm used to using (Arches, Fabriano and Saunders Waterford). Not exactly like NOT paper - maybe inbetween NOT and HP. I developed the lighter patches on the grasses through repeated layering coupled with drawing with my battery powered eraser.

At the moment, I think this one will be going back across the Atlantic and will be for sale at the exhibition that Fine Line Artists are having in Keene, New Hampshire in December.

I'm also looking forward to having another go at this one in pastel!

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10 comments:

  1. AlisonMonday, October 23, 2006

    An amazing variety of colours in the sandy path - beautiful

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  2. Making A MarkMonday, October 23, 2006

    Thanks Alison - the path is that sort of bone white grey wood boards that you see so often by the shore. Except in this instance, it was just completely transformed by the late evening light and the shadows from the fences and the grasses. It lasted about 20 minutes and then was gone.

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  3. LaurelineMonday, October 23, 2006

    Really fun to see how you developed this from that delightful sketch! Can't wait to see the pastel version.

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  4. Julie OakleyMonday, October 23, 2006

    This is absolutely gorgeous. The shadows are lovely.

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  5. Jeanette JobsonTuesday, October 24, 2006

    I do love the colours in this too. Especially the lovely pastel shades in the sand pathway. Just beautiful.

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  6. MaryTuesday, October 24, 2006

    This last version is breathtaking, Katherine. Indeed a beautiful place.

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  7. CinTuesday, October 24, 2006

    both are beauties, I love seeing how the final piece first began in your sketch

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  8. AnitaWednesday, October 25, 2006

    Oh Katherine - this is SO lovely! I am learning the tricks of having to work fast with moving light and so fully appreciate what skill it took to do this.

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  9. Robyn SinclairThursday, October 26, 2006

    I'm late commenting, but really appreciating all of your recent work, particularly the lovely subtle colours in this beachscape. Thanks also for sharing all the exhibitions and workshops you attend. It's a real treat for me.

    ciao
    robyn

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  10. Making A MarkThursday, October 26, 2006

    Thanks to everybody for the wonderful comments - much appreciated as always.

    I'm thinking of maybe trying to get this reproduced as a small print or maybe even a postcard!

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