Overnight at 'Beddies'
Posted by Stephen on February 21, 2010 under Art, en plein air, landscape, painting, portrait, seascape, watercolor, watercolour | 
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We have just returned from a night-over in ‘Beddies’. Thats what the surfers call it “hey man I was in Beddies yesterday – and it was sick”. Betty’s Bay. We have friends with a cottage just below Luiperdskloof. We got there in the late afternoon yesterday and while the boys went off for a surf I sat and painted a watercolour. Actually it was from about the same spot where I had painted in the pouring rain last year and the watercolour had suffered the same treatment as I. W. Spider. Here is how it looked yesterday:
While I was painting the wisp of cloud over the mountain developed into a dense blanket obliterating any view above a few hundred feet.
The next morning I got up early and painted the from behind our friends cottage.
Their back-garden is a riot of fynbos and indigenous trees, with a small patch of Buffalo Grass – a broad-leafed lawn grass that is indigenous to the area. What a pleasant way to start the day. Later the wind picked up and though we went for a surf it was not very much. We went to Pringle bay, which is tucked away between the two peaks I paint on the far right in the mountains I paint from “The Pipe”. I wanted to do a quick sketch but was outvoted by the boys.
Later in the day I painted Rob, our host as he read the paper and chatted:
And then we went down to the break at Betty’s a last time to see if the break was working. There was a strong South Easter blowing on shore so no-one surfed but some of the group went for a walk down the beach which was quite wild in the wind. I found a vegetation covered dune and got my stuff ready to paint. I had to tape everything down but even so the wind kept lifting the paper from the sketch book to which it was taped. Julian took this shot of me painting:
Gives new meaning to “whatever blows your hair back” heh heh.
And here is the painting I did:
All quite rushed but there it is.
lesliepaints said,
These are wonderful, you wanderer, you. I really like your portrait of your friend. Nice attention payed to what counts. I also am very impressed with the one of the cloud covering the mountain.
CarolKing said,
Hey Stephen, first of all, where are your shoes? What if you cut yourself and it gets infected???
Love how you captured the mist in the first painting. You have a wonderful way with foliage and it shows in that tree in the second painting.
I like the portrait of Rob and even your “rushed” painting has a wonderful airy quality to it. The water is quite inviting.
Still cold here.
lindahalcombfineart said,
I am amazed at how much you get done in a day! These will hold your lovely memories.
Stephen said,
Hi Leslie – thanks for this – it is such a beautiful place – we walked up the mountain to see the flowers (I will get the name) I had gastro and was feeling awful but wanted to sit and sketch but had not taken any paper to paint on so I just lay in the cool air and snoozed before wandering – definitely on my list to go up there again. S
Stephen said,
Man I really feel for you with the cold weather – we are still cooking here even though it is windy – which is a serious fire hazard round here.
the shoes business could have been much MUCH worse – as you know – but I really like walking on the beach barefoot. I have a kind of a rule about it.
Thanks for the comments
S
Stephen said,
Hi Linda – paintings carry a lot of memory value hey? There is something about seeing enough to put it down – cheers hey S
2a24 said,
You are lucky to live in a very beautiful place like these one from your paintings. I think that you admire the nature and in the same time you give a personal touch through your watercolors
I think that is not for me this 
)
Is it your portrait? Beautiful work, my friend! I’ve always tried to make myself the portrait and I’ve never succeed it
Enjoy the moment, my friend!
Stephen said,
Hi Alina – yes I love nature – I love to feel sand sifting through my toes when I sit and I love the sound of leaves in the breeze – all very special to me as I see it is to you.
thanks for the comment on my watercolours. The portrait is of my friend in whose house we stayed, I also battle with portraits, sometimes the paint doesn’t do just what I want and then the portrait can be un-flattering but I think it is worth persisting. Have a great day your side – S
napabelle said,
Another lovely and delicate painting. I also love the gentleman. What a fun outing, wind and all…
Stephen said,
Hi Isabelle – thanks – it is really good to be out there
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