Patty,
yes, I think that you can make the foreground very light. I see that you have already made the light, coming in between the figures, that light.
It is a good idea to simplify values at the start so I suggest that you make the foreground an even value and gradually mix the sandcolor and sky color. Then paint in the foam, waves and reflections afterwards.
You won't have enough value span for the rest of the painting if you graduate the foreground that much from the start, like you have done.
Forgive me my lousy explanations
The reflection of the figures is so delicate and barely
Threaded Mode
