Plein Air Painting of Dunes

By The Dunes
Acrylic on Canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

This was the first time that I've painted on a canvas this large during a plein air session. I usually work fairly small. I liked working bigger because I was able to paint using loose strokes with a big brush. Original paintings are available through my website at: Sharon Guy Art. Affordable prints are available at: Sharon Guy.

Florida Beach Scene by Sharon Guy

Red Tower
Acrylic on panel, 10 in. x 8 in.

Beach towers add color and structure to a painting. I like doing plein air paintings with a strong, simple, composition. The bright, red tower makes a nice contrast with the white sand. This was painted early in the morning while the sun was behind me. I'm lucky to be able to paint outside in the winter without being cold. Sharon Guy Art

Early Morning Plein Air Painting

Morning Walk
Oil on panel, 10 in. x 8 in.
During the hot summer, I paint at the beach as early as possible.
Sharon Guy Art

Abstracted Representations by Sharon Guy

Look Up, Acrylic on canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

I spend a lot of time looking up at the sky while I walk my dogs, or while running on Siesta Beach. This abstract painting was inspired by the dramatic clouds that I often see before the sunset. Sharon Guy Art.

Another View of the Gulf

View From the Dunes, Oil on Panel, 9 in. x 7 in. by Sharon Guy

Last Sunday I found a nice view from a wooden platform on the North end of Siesta beach. It had a bench I could sit on, and plenty of room for my easel. I was working on a small panel, so I did an impressionist style soft-edged painting. The Gulf water has a jewel-like color in the early morning. It is incredibly quiet and peaceful there in the morning, and I tried to capture that mood in this painting. For more plein-air painting visit my website at Sharon Guy Art.

The White Sandy Beaches of Southwest Florida

White Sand, Siesta Key, Oil on canvas, 14 in. x 11 in. by Sharon Guy

The white sandy beaches of Southwest Florida are stunning, especially Siesta Beach. I painted this en plein air, while standing in the shade of the blue tower at the north end of the beach. The heat and humidity forced me to quit earlier than I wanted, but I had painted fast and was satisfied with what was on the canvas. The curve of the beach with the dunes and grasses make a nice composition. Finally, the clouds are thinning and I have some intense, tropical colors to paint. My website is at Sharon Guy Art.

More Plein Air Painting in the Rain by Sharon Guy

Rainbow, Oil on canvas, 10 in. x 8 in.

It's been hard to do plein air painting here in Florida in August because it's been raining constantly and the heat and humidity are overwhelming. Last Sunday morning, I saw a beautiful rainbow peaking through the thunderclouds. I plopped my easel down in the middle of Siesta beach and started painting as fast as I could. I also did a good sketch in case it started raining. When the thunder and lightning started, I grabbed my easel, canvas, and backpack and retreated to the pavilion - just in time before the heavy rain let go. For more plein air painting, visit my website at Sharon Guy Art.

Painting the Gulf, by Sharon Guy

Looking North, Sunday Morning, Oil on canvas, 12 in. x 10 in.

Early in the morning, I walked to the north end of Siesta Beach to look at the dunes and grasses. The light was grey and the water was greyish green when I started, but as the sun moved higher the sky and water changed to soft blue. I painted quickly, because the heat was getting intense by 9am. This was painted with a palette knife and a little brush work. The beach was quiet except for a few people out doing their early morning walks or runs. For more plein air paintings visit my website at Sharon Guy Art.

Plein Air Painting at the Beach by Sharon Guy

North End, Siesta Beach, Oil on canvas, 8" x 10"

There is a grassy area near the parking area at the North end of Siesta Beach. I backed my car in so I could leave my trunk open and pull my art supplies out for my plein air setup. While facing the water I had a close-up view of the grasses, sea grapes, and weeds. A bunny grazed nearby in the grass for a long time. This was painted very early in the morning. For more art visit my website at Sharon Guy Art.