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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Saldanha Bay - Early Morning Rhapsody in Blue


A nick-name for the West Coast is "the cannery coast", for here bedazzling amounts of fish are harvested from hundreds of fishing vessels. The great reserves of plankton-rich water attracts shellfish, harders and maasbankers, the so-called pelagic fish. Soon after the Dutch created their outpost for supplies in the Cape, the large number of seals and seagulls were a sure sign that fish were plentiful here. In later centuries a little coastal road developed which is today the well-known R27. Even today the local economy depends much on fishing the waters around Saldanha and its six islands.

I caught these two boats "dozing" in the bright morning mist in the harbour of Saldanha. The blue colours on many of these vessels are extremely attractive. I noticed in a private part of the harbour that the massive I&J fishing fleet has a uniform royal blue for their boats, but cannot tell for sure why so many others are painted blue. I only know that I hope to paint many more of them!

To paint the ripples on the water I under painted in white, covered with sea-green and then "lifted" the white bits. My art friends will also notice that I have once again defied the rules of composition! In the previous post all the people walk OUT of the picture and here I balance the heavy mass of two boats with nothing but the bright water and a strong thin border of distant land.


14 comments:

  1. Very cool!
    I love the space between your boats too...
    and the warm splashes of color between them!
    Yep... us waterfront girls are on the same page, though miles---apart.

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  2. Beautiful Marie and intricate rope work there! I just love paintings about boats and look forward to seeing more from you. I saw your boats as well Jill, lovely!

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  3. Hi Jill, I cannot use the term "separated at birth" for the two of us, as I am 66! But the two boats theme was actually good networking as everybody looks at both our paintings now. Nancy Medina remarked on the coincidence on Facebook as well and now Maree here on this blog!

    Hi Maree, I will do the rope lesson for your painters'club one day. (My second promise to you! Where does the time go?)

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  4. Marie... you may have defied the rule of composition but somehow you have made it work..... great guns to you!!!! I wish , I wish I had the patience to paint boats.. you make it look easy!

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  5. Gosh, Marie. I think this is simply another exquisite painting! And I rather like when an artists defies the so-called rules. Makes a piece quite interesting! Thanks for sharing the tips on painting the water. That is a hard one for me!

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  6. I really like this composition, especially with the boat's bow up close and personal...but the red in the middle takes the eye in and around the painting, so it all balances. The paleness of the sky reflecting on the water gives a sense of morning mist, as the sun is getting stronger. Very nice painting!

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  7. I too find the painting compelling and the composition does work well. I found the color of the water to be quite amazing. Very interesting about the fishing and history of 'cannery coast'.

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  8. Loved the comment you found the boats dozing together! Like the beautiful sunny colours and unusual lopsided composition.

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  9. great details...good color and light...feel like they are eager to escape back out to sea

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  10. I have two similar boats who tie up near my home - only they are black and white. I love your story of how the area got built up, and how they figured out there were lots of fish there! Thanks for talking about your process, too. I think the composition is very strong in this one - your eye is gently led around the focal point. Great job, and thanks for sharing, Marie!

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  11. two boats very cozied up to each other...nicely done! Feels sunny

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  12. Beautiful painting Marie. We are at the moment painting out at OudeKraal and the water is very challenging indeed! Margie Johnson is giving a class on Thursday on water which I am definately going to!
    I am hoping to go up the West Coast with Liz Pearson and friends, week after next, and we are hoping to meet up with you and paint together! I hope it all comes together!

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  13. Marie, lovely paintings. I am especially taken with the subtle shadows and reflections beneath the boats. The blue fishing vessels remind me of the remnants of the fishing fleet in Monterey, CA. Another beautiful depiction of the West Coast.

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  14. What can I say! These 2 little sleepy boats are now moored in our home! The collage of the trio; buoys and sleepy boats, is a gorgeous spectacle indeed!

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