At The Beach
 

I began this painting in January and just completed it today. It will be presented to my clients next week. This is the first oil commission I have ever completed so I am quite nervousl I have such little experience in oils and no experience in landscapes so I'll admit to some blaring problems with this painting. But there are aspects of it I like and boy, did I learn a lot from accepting this challenge.

Now I am looking forward to doing a portrait painting, head and shoulder. I have four or five images to choose from - eye candy I have been dyjng to paint!

Thanks for looking,
Patty

Patty, this is a great painting. I'm sure your clients will love it! I love the elegant simplicity of this setting amplifying the activity of these four; and they are evidently very active. Just beautiful! It was great to see your progress in the critiques section. Congratulations on your success here.

How large is this by the way? Are you able to share some close-ups of these kids?

Garth

Way to go kiddo! I proud as punch.

Patty, this turned out splendidly--very simple, restrained and well balanced. I too, would like to see some close-ups of the children. Congratulations on a commission well done! And have fun with your next painting!

Your responses are so appreciated. I have been so blind to this painting for so long, just pushing myself to finish it. So great to read your comments.

Garth, the painting is 24 x 36, which looks small in the store but HUGE when I put it on my easel and stared at a blank canvas! I will post some close ups.

Marvin, your comment means the world to me...

Alexandra, thank you for your help in the critiques section...you helped me to understand so much about the light effects on water, shallow and deep.

Pat--

Relax, it's grand. Well done!

--TE

Ahhhhh. . .

Deep breath...

...thanks, Tom!

Congratulations, Pat !
Nicely done.

I am so delighted to see your final piece - thanks so much for sharing your work in process, your thoughts, and your decision -making process.

It turned out lovely Patti. Congratulations!

Marina, Chris, Enzie,
Thanks for the compliments. I am delivering it this week, I'll let you know how the clients feel about it. I put it in a simple frame today. Realizing it is time to invest some shopping in antique stores for cool frames!

Hi HOneymooner!
This is so salty--it's sea water (and sea breeze).

Thank you SB! Yes, I still feel as if I am on my honeymoon, just three weeks married!

The more I live with the painting the better I feel about it. I am now looking forward to delivery day!

You have every reason to be proud, it turned out beautifully. It's salt water, fresh air and happy kids and the client will be thrilled , :thumbsup:

Thank you Allan! And thanks for your tremendous help.

Patty, the closeup is beautiful. Your color sense (and use of color) is very lifelike. Good luck with the clients--but I have no doubt they will be pleased.

Thank you Alexandra, your help was so important to the completion of this painting...

It is beautiful Patti. I love the fluid plane of the water that surrounds the children and their interaction. You have a really good feeling for the beach environment. Nothing static here.

Thank you Mary!

I delivered the painting last night, staging a little unveiling for the famiy. When I pulled the drape off of the painting I fixed my eyes on the mom, watching as her eyes welled with tears and she put her hands to her face and slowly broke into a grin from ear to ear. Then my eyes wandered to the dad (who, by the way thought it silly to do the oil painting when he wanted me to do charcoal drawings of each child) as he took a step back, said "whoa" and grinned. They just love it and placed it on their mantle. Mom responded, "the painting changes the whole living room".

What a great feeling...as I was leaving dad said I will be hearing from them for oil portraits of each child; wouldn't that be grand!

All in all a terrific experience.

Fantastic! Good for you....

Such a reaction makes all the hard work worth it.

Feel free to glow.

Thanks Tom. It is the reason we paint portraits. And I'll make the glow last as long as I can!!

How wonderful, Patty! I was going to ask if you had the family see it yet. So glad to hear that they appreciate it! It is a lovely painting.

Double thanks Julie!!

Patty-

Gorgeous painting! I especially enjoy seeing the unconventional pose of the children. Congratulations!

Thank you very much, Stanka, your response means allot to me.

Isn't it wonderful when that happens? And in this case, very well deserved. I think every family should have a painting like this in their living room -- but then, I'm slightly biased.

Thank you Michelle. I'm flattered by your response. Isn't it strange, but I miss having the painting in my house! Now I am on to the next oil commission which I got as a result of this one, and feel as if I had not ever painted the first, and so it goes (YESS!!!!!)