Oistins, Open Air Pub, Barbados

Continuing with the theme of 'hot' paintings, this one was done in Barbados, near the town of Oistins famous for it's fresh fish, and weekly barbeque-dance parties. In Barbados it is 31C in summer, 30C in spring, and 28C in winter. On this day it was about 30C, and the sun was shining as usual. This bar was just on the road- side (there is basically only one road in Barbados, encircling most of the island), and as you may see in the painting, there were no doors or windows, just open spaces in the wall. I would like to see them do that in Montreal right now! An empty chair sits in the bar, inviting the viewer. The strong warm sunlight changes the colours quite a bit from what you may be used to in Northern America, everything seems a little richer with tinges of pink and yellow. At first I had a difficult time capturing the colours correctly, but soon I learned how to slightly exaggerate the colours for a greater effect. Look into the shadows depicted in this painting (the side of the building, the stairs) and you see that they are filled with rich warm tones. I also emphasize the chalky, pastel-like colour palette: the orange roof, the minty green wall, and the deep purple asphalt road. Uncharacteristically, I sign with a legible version of my name in this one. I think I may just have to fly back to Barbados right now and do another painting, just so I can fix a few little mistakes....and maybe have a beer at 30C. 

 Oistins, Open Air Pub, 7 x 10" cold press November 2001 (No. 1198)