Let's Dance

I've always loved the ocean. Whether its the stunning coastline of my home state of South Carolina or the majestic coastline of California - I never walk away from a day at the beach unchanged. This particular sunset painting was inspired by one of my many trips to Will Rogers State Beach near LA. When I saw the couple dancing in the sand and the clouds dancing overhead - I knew it was time to put it on the canvas.
~
A little about the technique used in this painting: I wanted the sky to have a rhythm that complimented the dancers on the beach. I used a loose version of impressionism where I put down each brushstroke and leave it alone, not changing it or mixing the colors on the canvas. Each stroke goes down similar to laying mosaic tiles. This meant that any "mistakes" that happened became moments of serendipity - leading to a finished painting that conveys the sense of play present in the loving couple's dance on the beach.