From my plein air explorations of Newport Beach Back Bay, this painting was begun on a catamaran boat so I could find a new vantage point.   It was pure joy to stand on this type of platform and paint from life.  I recorded a short video while I was on the boat.  I will put it on my Facebook page, go to my home page and click on join my Facebook page to see it.  It will be titled painting "Back Bay on a Boat".  Or you may click here, hopefully the link will work and take you directly to my Esther J. Williams Fine Art page to see the 1 minute video. While you are there, click the LIKE button to become a fan as they used to call it.
 I love being creative and discovering new ways to compose a scene. The sunlight was fading fast behind the bluff you see here, but the sky took on this coral, peachy tone and cast a bright yellow band of light across the marsh.  In the end, a large Heron or Great White Egret landed on the channel to get his evening meal.  Blissful time for me to be able to paint at this location and experience the estuary atmosphere with wildlife.  I will definitely go back.  Now I know why Claude Monet preferred this way of painting, it does give you an on stage viewpoint, commanding and directing the scene feeling.  The painting was later finished at my home art studio and was entered into a juried art exhibition in Socalpapa's Back Bay show being held July 23-25. 

Click here to go to the event details for the Socalpapa Plein Air Art Show & Sale at the Back Bay Muth Interpretive Center.