The Rocky Coast of Maine

I'm just back in Maine from a 36 hour trip back to St. Louis.  I miss my adopted state so much when I'm gone.  And one thing I miss most is the rocky shoreline.

Rocks are hard to paint.  But being a painter in Maine means you must at least try once in a while.

My approach is to paint an interesting underpainting with varied colors.  The next layers define shape and finally texture.  I also try not to define every single rock so that attention may be drawn to the focal area.

Here are two paintings dealing with the subject.  In the first one, I've limited the emphasis to shape.  In the second, I've added texture to the mix.

P.S.  Anyone want to become my 70th member??