Day 10 : #30x30DirectWatercolor2019 : Wreckers’ Beach

I have this theory that landscape paintings are a kind of magic teleporter.

When I look at a great painting, I feel like I’m actually there – traveling into the picture plane.

I’m telling myself a little story about wandering down this path towards the seashore, early morning mist sparkling on the water. It’s cold out, and the land is back-lit, pushing everything into shadow. I can see the path wind out of sight, off the edge of the painting and into the dunes. There’s a little inlet here, with the sea out in the distance.

You can create a whole novel imaging yourself traveling through the image.

Perhaps, this was the goal of all the plein air painting I’ve done. To build up a mental library of scenery for future-me to draw upon. Except, I’m pretty sure I’ve never actually been to this place.

~m