I finally had enough energy to get my brushes wet today. This scene had been on my mind for a couple of months, and after a conversation over lunch with a fellow artist, I was motivated to get back to what I love most: painting.
A word about the buildings on the shoreline. The Catholic church in Boothbay Harbor is iconic. Spotlights shine on it at night, making it prominently visible across the harbor. In order to emphasize its importance, I subordinated the other buildings by not defining them too exactly. In the past I would have carefully defined each structure which would subtract from the real subject which was the church. Now I've only hinted at rooflines and reduced their value with a thin wash during the first pass of the sky area. As a result, I think the attention stays on the moon, the church and the reflections in the water.
I call this loose, suggestive approach 'telegraphing.' Say what you want in the shortest way possible. Don't paint in paragraphs; paint in telegraph formats.
Thanks for sticking with me!
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