Twilight by the Bay

The first of the en plein air painting classes held as part of 1000 words for Summer Art Classes in early December, was Twilight Sailing. After pouring all day, the rain stopped just in time for the tables and chairs to dry out. The wind dropped and it turned out to be a pleasant evening.

Twilight by the Sea

With one extra day this Summer, the evening class leapt into it’s second en plein air for the season. Not quite the 29th February, but close enough, it was a beautiful balmy evening starting out with blue skies and sprinkles. The surfers surfed and shouted whist the swimmers swam about. Some sketched on paper with pencils and others tried painting in ink. One ventured straight into painting a little canvas.

As the light dimmed, the colour faded from the sky. The floodlights came on accentuating the white water of the waves across the darkened water. The headland appeared to disappear hiding the heathland and leaving only sparkling lights in the houses and ripples in the pool.

Sitting peacefully in the sticky heat and salty air, we all acknowledge that none of us would be there if it were not for the others. A special moment in an otherwise busy week. A chance to observe a few magical moments, the subtle movements of the sun across the sky and the busy-ness of people doing their daily exercise.

Then just before it was time to leave, the pool water went as still as glass and all that could be heard was the gentle ocean waves. An almost exotic calling of creatures from the sea. For out there somewhere in the darkness of it all, a beautiful tranquility reminds us that this is nature, with forces greater than any of us could capture on a page. So much to draw, or just to be in awe.

It was a wonderful way to spend a late Summer evening, just one day before the special day which makes this a leap year. It wont be long now until the clocks turn back and we’ll be forced indoors. So enjoy it while you can and by all means join us for the next one. Check the comments below, call or text Suzi on 0414 339 721, or emailvignettesdelavie@gmail.com. To read more about other en plain air classes click here. To find out about other classes on offer click here.

If photography is more your thing, by all means come and join us, we’d love to have you there.