Mexico Coconuts

This is another small study done on the beach at a resort in the Mayan Riviera. Considering the cost of the resort in addition to the materials, I would need to sell this painting for many pesos. There were these freaky looking black birds everywhere preying on the leftovers of toursists (people who stayed in the sun too long or fell asleep got their eyes pecked out, just kidding the birds would just drink your Tequilla Sunrise). One such bird is seen camouflaged in the canopy of the palm tree amongst the coconuts. The tops of the shade-huts are seen, and a strip of emerald water at the bottom.

When you are looking for landscape compositions don't forget to look up. Especially on the beach, there is so much action going on that sometimes the only clear site line is upwards. I once did a painting of an American flag, with ust the blue sky in the background and a few tops of telephone poles, and it worked out really well. This one worked out too, I think part of the key is to keep some of the elements in that tie the scene to the ground, in this case I made sure to keep in the water to let you know where you are looking, to give a frame of reference. I also kept in the top of the sun-huts for the same reason, as well as to give a nice, jagged line to the horizon. This painting also have several good examples of reflected light, the blue light of the sky bouncing off the side of the tree in the center, and the hot light of the sand bouncing off the underside of the sun huts which glow orange.

5x7" cold press. 2010