Hurricane Harvey Conquered!
OPS Fulton Beach Paint-Out 2018
Hurricane Harvey 2017 wrecked much of the Texas Gulf Coast. The landscape on and around beach areas is fragile at best and when Mother Nature comes at it with 200 mph. winds not much can survive! The boat at he left was painted in a yard with acres of damaged boats of every kind, size and value. Slowly, they are being salvaged one by one. I found this one to particularly charming. Actually what made me decide to paint it was bacause is was against open sky and the clouds were just so beautifl. So it is really a sky painting as much as a boat painting.
Friday, May 25, 2018
This paint-out was a benefit for the Rockport Art Center which was badly damaged in the hurricane. The first day of painting we went to the Aranasas National Wildlife Refuge. It occupies a huge area of salt water marches and plants, birds and We were interupped by a drenching rain that lasted all afternoon. I painted the boat to the right just a the clouds moved out and the sun began to shine.
The shrimpers in the Fulton Beach harbor were so beautiful. They had aqua nets strung up to dry and all sorts of rusty tools of the trade onboard. Being a landlubber I had a serious challenge with the water and the hsapes of the boats. The more I looked around the more I found to paint. Mid-day was beastly hot, but early morning or late afternoon was quite pleasant.
One of the most unusual things that I have not seen anywhere else was the way the Live Oaks grew. They are strong enough to survive many hurricanes, but they lean inward, their huge branches curl, twist and intwine into a lace-like bow. I painted the 1887, still standing firmly, mansion on Fulton Beach through the limbs of one of these several century old oaks. It was the first painting that sold out of the 250.00. Someone else liked that combination too!
Also in the Fulton Beach Marina were items for those less serious about the see than the shrimpers. These kayaks made me think of my son who lives in Hood River Oregon and loves to Kayak. We used to have a condo at South Padre Island and I remembered his first attempt at wind surfing. He got on the wind surfer and out to sea he went. We were not sure that we would not have to summon a rescue squad. It was in the bay and turned out to be only a few feet deep even a long ways from the shore!
I loved the way the nets twisted and folded. I could have spent a lot of time doing still lifes, but hey this is the coast and I should paint what I cannot do at home - boats and water - right? The colors of the ocean are incredible, a real lesson in mixing blues and greens.
This paint-out was a contest on top of being a benefit for the arts. It was juried and there were artists from all over the country and Nova Scotia. There were 53 of us! Some of the most accomplished painters around made the trip to the south of Texas to paint and help the Art Center out. I must admit it was terrible intimidating to see what was accomplished in the week of the paintout with over 250 paintings!
The Aransas Wildlife Refuge was a beautiful place and worth of more that one attempt. I had planned to do another of the marshes but the rain came and drove us home. This location was a viewing area for American Alligators. I was just sure that one of them were going to come up to see what I was doing. I hink this was really my favorite painting that I did. I really like the wild area landscapes. They are so fragile and are almost never there the next time that you come by.
The last painting that I did was across the street from the RV park, “The Blue Lagoon” were we were staying. I got there at 6 AM and started setting up. I did not finish it there. Each minute that I painted gave me a variation of the clouds. There was just not enough time to justify what I witnesses. Wow what a week!!!!
