King Tides

Carmel, California, on a late morning during King Tides. I had an inspirational day plein air painting a study for this studio piece. The power of the waves and resulting mist, combined with a lifting marine layer, created a symphony of muted tones and a captivating atmosphere I was compelled to capture. I used an indirect method of painting over several sessions to layer the subtle value and hue shifts in this piece. The greys in this piece are the foundation for highlighting contrast, depth and mood.