Watercolor California Coast

"Along the Coast"

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted on the blog.  Time goes by so swiftly; I'm glad I captured this scene  The original watercolor and full details can be found on Etsy .

The ocean and nature capture beautiful memories. The inspiration for this painting is the Southern California coastline. My work is a combination of what I see in nature and imagination. 

Original Ocean Painting

I wanted to capture the quite solitude of the ocean in the evening with this 5" X 7" small format painting. I love color especially the vibrant color of the ocean on a sunny day but this was my effort to bring the colors and values to reflect a night time sea.

"Branching Out"

My usual painting size is 8” X 10” or smaller. These small format paintings have an intimacy that I enjoy and I’ll continue to express myself in that format but I needed a change this week…

While researching this seascape, sketching, taking photos I felt the painting needed an expressive change. This painting is 12” X 16” it doesn’t seem like such a large leap but it was a way of moving forward. The ocean is so huge, you’ll see surfers, swimmers; people enjoying themselves at the pier but sometimes that big water tugs at you and I just want to paint something huge.

So I looked around the studio and the biggest canvas I had was 12” X 16” not very “huge” but it fit the artistic urge. I don’t know where this is going but I’m certain for myself painting is like writing a visual story and sometimes the story needs a few more chapters… and inches of canvas.

Original Impressionistic Seascape by JC Strong

With the help of imagination and reference material, this latest work is my idea of the many colors and moods of the ocean.

Everytime I paint a landscape or seascape I'm aware that nature is the ultimate artist:

"Nature" is what we see -- The Hill -- the Afternoon -- Squirrel -- Eclipse -- the Bumble bee -- Nay -- Nature is Heaven -- Nature is what we hear -- The Bobolink -- the Sea -- Thunder -- the Cricket -- Nay -- Nature is Harmony -- Nature is what we know -- Yet have no art to say -- So impotent Our Wisdom is To her Simplicity." by Emily Dickinson

You can find more information regarding this painting by visiting my Etsy Shop. With so many options on the web, thank you for stopping by and viewing my work...

On My Easel: Impressionist Seascape by JC Strong

Looking for Whales off Dana Point:
Beginning/Blocking in color and shapes:
It's been a nice couple of weeks in Southern California. At this time of year I feel fortunate not to be shoveling snow.

A few days ago I had the opportunity to go whale watching off the coast of Dana Point, California. It was fun and we spotted a couple of whales, migrating south toward Mexico. Most of my reference photos were mainly the wake they left in the water. They'd left their fluke (tail) and down they'd go into the sea.

So I took lot's of reference photos of the sea and painted this seascape. I had a slow start, blocked in some color and then came back with more color & details...

California Seascape by JC Strong

Southern California has been experiencing heavy rains. The past week I was reminded nature is in full control at the San Clemente Beaches.

This day I felt I had a glimpse of an expressive and assertive ocean. The sun came out for a brief time but underneath the sea is full throttle activity . . .
You can see the churning in the ocean. I could see waves sand and dirt rolling around.

Landscapes and seascapes for me are a matter of taking cues from nature and editing down the scene. I usually paint in a small format but this scene needed a larger canvas (16" X 20"). See more photos and details.