Summerish Figures on the Beach - & Tips in Painting These

One Long Summer - 2026.

Normally our Summer only lasts for 6 weeks, that’s to say, 6 weeks of parasols and heat. This time it was 3 times as much, 18 weeks of heat. Maybe more.
And I could have painted 3 times as many parasol paintings, but.. tending, watering the garden(s) took a lot of time, next to all other things.
We chose to paint in the ‘odd’ hours a lot too. It’s interesting to start painting on the beach when people are leaving for dinner. And we experienced the twinklings on the ocean, the lowering sun, the sunset and beyond that, a great time to paint, at dusk. The most special sunset ‘ever’ was the eclipse last August. (Photo in next post/links later.)

These 4 months of Summer resulted in many Summerish paintings, here some of the figure/beach ones, I've added most of these new paintings to the shop here

Contrary to the rush of time I feel I painted so much this year. Yes, it feels like we’re closing up this year, maybe it’s because Summer has definitely ended, and the skies indicate Autumn, schools have begun, and there could be some ‘sadness’ in the air. But when we’re used to Autumn again, painting rainbows and huge clouds, cows, I’ll love that time too, putting the garden to sleep will also feel good. 

I wanted to also pack some tips in.

TIPS IN PAINTING FIGURES

Tip, or point of inspiration, would be that figures can be painted easier, when you can (just) focus on light-and shadow, paint both, and get a 'real' figure. This is meant very literal: a leg can have two stripes of color next to each other... one for a lit area, one for a shadow area. Similar to clothed parts. Same idea. Keep it simple when you start.

Most artists fuss with this: when they cannot apply the paint thick enough, resulting in a soft-highlight, and a soft-shadow, whereas you paint it thicker, you get good contrasts more easily. A palette knife comes in handy!
But of course, I also use a brush, and you need to start with mixing the right color, for light, for shadow. And 'fully load' a brush, if you need to apply the mix as you made it, so it won't muddy in the already applied colors, but instead, lays it on top.

Here examples of figures kept simplified, colors for light, colors for shadow...

What 'creates' Realism?

'''Realism''' in a painting can be reached by 
A) simplifying reality (see it simplified)
- by  B) (so you can) mix the right colors, that,
next to each other 'breathe real'.. = lights and shadows.

As an example, see the two figures (in the above close-up) under the parasol and the one in light just in front of it: it's very much simplified, but it works. The eye renders it as 'real'. Fitting in the landscape and portrayed light. See how the choice of surrounding color also plays a part, as an example, should all sand be too light, the highlights of the figures would fall away, but you can play with this 3rd area/value.

Test it out, see how little details you need. Noses, ears, toes, these can be unimportant details if the rest of the painting doesn't have these details also. Only use details that underline either light or shadow. (Dots of light on a shoulder... or as shown in the below painting: a line of light on the head...)

Keep the figures in the same style as the rest of the painting. And often the figure's 'silhouette' can point you in the right direction. If the shape is confusing to paint quickly or to paint it simplified: start with a silhouette in 1 color...

  Test it out!

 Light!

JOIN US IN A PLEINAIR CLASS IN 2027:

Find my teaching SCHEDULE 2027 here, COWS, BEACH, BULBS.

SPECIAL CLASSES:

Interesting, and extra:
--> In 2027 I'll do 2 workshops in West-Ireland in Kinvara Plein Air.
June 4-7 2027, find more info: www.kinvarapleinair.ie

Most special opportunity for you, intensive & pleasurable:
-->  3-DAYS | 4-DAYS Florida St. Pete in FEB 2027!!
If you are interested in Painting with me in a little beach town, at a 25 min. drive under Tampa, in Florida, sign up here.
We'll be painting - on the beach, - figures - sunsets - twilight - cityscape - palms and dune in twilight
Find the program and all info here.

New paintings added to the shop:

Find the 'Irish' paintings (438-453) in my shop here

Find new Cow paintings added (411-417) in my shop here

Find the 'Summer Seascapes' (437-402) in my shop here