[watercolor detail] © JeanBurman 2011
I woke at daylight to the sound of rain falling heavily on the corrugated iron roof.
It took me back to my childhood on the farm… and early evening suppers of soft boiled eggs and toasted soldiers while summer storms raged outside. Somehow it felt cosy inside. Although cosy is not a word you would logically use to describe the hot tropics [grin]
The plan was to get up early and walk down to the beach. But now it was raining *sigh*
I remembered my joggers out on the porch [still wet from yesterday] and just for a moment thought seriously about going back to sleep [grin]
As it turned out there were only a few other people down on the beach that early. Not many of them walking in the rain… but lots of activity all the same.
There was a guy pushing off in a kayak with two fishing poles sticking out front. Where in the world he thought he was paddling to on such a dismal day is anyone’s guess… but I admired his spirit. I hope he got there… caught a few fish and had a “whale” of a time (((chuckles)))
A couple of people stood sheltering under a shop awning waiting…. while cafe and shop owners were opening their doors and winding out their rain shutters getting ready for breakfast.
By the time I reached the end of the jetty at the far end of the beach you could safely say I was pretty wet.
But it was warm rain. And I was glad of it.
There is something about being out in the rain… something childlike and wonderful. And just as long as it’s warm and you don’t have to work in it… well.. heck… why not?
It was however too wet to paint. And way too wet to set up a camera.
But my imagination was captured from the end of the jetty by a stream of fractured light that shone down onto a patch of sea that lit the whole place up. It was as though the clouds conspired for just that moment to let in the light… and then it was gone as the next skud came through.
How amazing.
And awe inspiring.
On the walk home I tried to keep the mental picture in my head… just long enough to get it down.
Secretly… I think I failed. Scenes like this are so hard to catch.
It’s as though they are a gift.
There for us in that one moment to see the rapture… and enjoy… and then just like that… they’re gone.
In the end I decided to go for the feeling… not a masterpiece… nor anything particularly accomplished.
Just a feeling.
Anyway… I had wonderful fun with it.
[And I liked the way it turned out]
Take a look!
LEAVE A NOTE…
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I suspect, Jean, that I think it’s much better than you think it is. You’ll like it a lot more a year from now! And the video is a bonus. (Personally, I’ve long since stopped trying to paint masterpieces, and am delighted if with every painting I do I learn something new.)
Thanks John
I know what you mean.
The funny thing is… I’m actually quite happy with the way this painting turned out. It expresses exactly how I felt… and as such [I guess] succeeds as a painting in its own right.
But compared to the drama of nature herself? I didn’t have a hope! LOL Nature will always be greater than we mere mortals who are trying to capture her… except for perhaps immortals like JMW Turner… and JS Sargent. Yet even they I suspect didn’t capture in the literal sense what they saw… so much as what they were responding to… their interpretation of it… what they were feeling at the time?
Boy… what I would give to get inside the feeling JMW must have had when he captured the exquisite nuances of light and atmosphere he ultimately became famous for LOL
As for the video. Well it took way longer than the painting did… but I love the challenge of putting it all together.
There’s a lot of elements to get to go right though LOL
The first painting I did… I had filmed edited and put together… and then managed to stuff up right at the end… rendering hours of work redundant… as my conscience wouldn’t allow me to post up the making of a painting which had ultimately crashed and burned.
But watercolour is like that isn’t it? When let loose… It’s as capricious and unpredictable as it is beautiful [a bit like nature] but I guess that’s why I like it so much.
Thanks for taking a look John and for adding your valued comments… it’s always so great to hear from you. Hope all is well with you Stateside?
Oh my gosh what is that music I need it ! …..Water colour is like constipation ….you just have to get it out grin and I think you succeded Big brush loadsa water and colour all combining to hand on a feeling of natural power . Thank you you have special gifts of not only art but communication Am I sookin’up too much ? NOT so I am just trying to convey how adept you are at things outwith my ken and thanks for sharing Hugs
Thanks Elinor [big hug goes here]… that’s lovely… and very much appreciated x
The music is Albatross [a Fleetwood Mac classic] It’s a pretty special piece of music to me [reminds me of a guy I once knew a gazillion years ago and let slip by] say no more LOL Funny how music can do that. I love it. In my next life I want to be a musician. I already put in my order to the universe “God please give me the music gene next time round and the grunt to do something about it” LOL Music really does make the world go round don’t you think? Not art. Not literature. It’s the one medium that absolutely EVERYONE understands… without qualification… or need for explanation. You either like it or you hate it. There really is no good or bad and it is all things to all people. Doesn’t get better than that I reckon… [grin]
Thanks again Miss E
Ahhh Jean–To my eye, you certainly must have captured the mood–and the music fits the picture to a “T”.( If Elinor had not asked about the piece, I was going to) It’s beautiful too, and I don’t think I have heard it before, though I’ve heard a lot of F.M. music. Your hard work paid off–delightful to both the eye and ear!!! Thanks for sharing. Love that you went walking in the warm rain, got soaked, and soaked up the beauty to be seen. It’s early winter here in Mi. no snow yet, but no warm rains to be found.
Hugs–Anita.
Thanks Anita
I hope you’re all rugged up over there!
It’s a great piece of music isn’t it? There are actually 3 layers to the soundtrack on this video… the original music.. looped thunder and rain… and a heartbeat which kicks in near the end as well. Needless to say I had fun with it… hope they don’t sue… though I could argue fair use [grin]
So great to hear from you… thanks for taking the time to comment [hugs back to you from way over here]
The thunder and heartbeat were excellent additions, and I did notice them–wondered if the thunder was part of the original recording. You created an atmosphere that was almost tangible even from “way over here”. (grin) I’m well “rugged up” as you put it–at least I can always add a layer if I’m uncomfortable.
Glad to hear it Anita
The stormy season brings drama that is quite tangible [as you say] and almost palpable as well… as the air is so hot and humid you can actually see feel and even taste it [sort of like fog... well I guess it IS fog... just hot fog LOL] Either way it’s a great time of year here and I love it. Right here right now it’s hard to imagine there is any place cold on the planet LOL
The music did it for me too, Jean…..I thought the looped thunder and rain were part of the original track they went so well together! Think you’ve found a new medium….
I know I have Harry LOL I love it. Can hardly wait to get the painting out of the way so I can get on with the editing [grin] The painting’s fun too though… and continues to deliver challenges. Thanks for stopping by… always great to hear from you
I “felt” it right away. And enjoyed the video, too!
Oops… sorry Galen
thought I had answered this… but clearly I hadn’t! So glad you got the feeling right away. You just made my job way so much easier [and more rewarding too] LOL