the low country of Hilton Head Island SC

"low country" 12"x16" pastel on Uart 320

From the desert of Albuquerque NM to the low country of Hilton Head Island SC. I came home from the IAPS pastel convention all inspired and headed to the oceanside. The oceanside is really my favorite place to go. Something always calls me there and I always feel peaceful when I get my feet in the sand.

It was hot, but the weather was perfect. I sat by the pool and walked on the beach. Perfect..right?

I brought along my single Heilman sketchbook pastel box. Easy to carry around and added some small pieces of Uart paper to do some quick studies. This one is 6"x8" and I painted while sitting by the pool.

This one is 6" x8" . I had just come back from a morning walk on the beach and painted this from a photo I had just taken. The sun was sparkling on the water and the colors were cool and soft in the early morning light. 

 

This one is 5"x7" , also from a photo on my morning walk.  I sat on my porch while it was all fresh in my head. I will use these smaller paintings as guides to paint larger paintings. The photo never really tells the true color and what the feeling was when I was there. 

On my way home I took several drive by photos of the low country from the car window. The post painting is from one of these photos. I wanted to paint it while the image was still clear in my head. I painted quickly..... Hope to get back to the oceanside again soon.....