Evening Shorebreak, Oceanside, CA

#3.1
pastel
12 x 16 in.
20 x 24 in. (framed)
There are moments in nature when dazzling lighting effects and color harmonies come together to create a mood of spectacular beauty. These moments are rare and ephemeral and cannot really be caught by a camera. To depict them is a challenge, but it is also a labor of love. The scene I witnessed here was during an autumn sunset when a large shorebreak crashed against a small jetty at the base of Oceanside Street. I was working in pastel en plein air at the time. I diligently tried to finish the piece on location but found that the memory of this scene was so imprinted on my brain that I could easily finish the work in the comfort of my own studio.