FRESH FROM THE EASEL

Black and white study to double check my tonal balance.  This was done when the painting was about 60% complete.  Once I was happy , only after a few adjustments, I was ready to move forward with painting the final details.

One of the more challenging aspects of "Acadia" was capturing the way waves bounce off of rocks, and clash with the incomng waves.   From this angle, the viewer does not see the water actually splashing off the rock face.  Instead we see a wave that has hit out of sight and is now heading back out to sea.  Two Harlequin ducks wait patiently for the right moment to splash back into the chilly Atlantic.