Litchfield – C-flat Series #1 – Sunrise

Feb 10, 2024
Progression images of a painting by Michel McNinch of Litchfield Beach

Sunrise at Litchfield Beach is one of the most glorious events I have ever witnessed. I try to see it at least once a year with the Ladies of the Traveling Paints. I have painted it many times – en plein air and in the studio. This week there was progress on my current Litchfield painting (30×40 inches). I have made 5 images so you can view the progress.

Charcoal on an oil-primed canvas, 30x40. Laying in the foundational shapes. The sound the charcoal makes on the canvas when a painting is beginning always signals the excitement of a new work. A Fresh Horizon - Litchfield - C-flat Series #1. Michel McNinch - Original Coastal Landscape painting.
Charcoal on an oil-primed canvas, 30×40. Laying in the foundational shapes. The sound the charcoal makes on the canvas when a painting is beginning always signals the excitement of a new work.
A Fresh Horizon - Litchfield - C-flat Series #2. Michel McNinch - Original Coastal Landscape painting. Working with my beloved blues, I block in the major foundational shapes. Something about a blue foundation just sets the temperature of the painting.Working with my beloved blues, I block in the major foundational shapes. Something about a vivid blue foundation gives the temperature of the painting a good beginning. I don't always start a painting monochromatically, but I know what is coming.
Working with my beloved blues, I block in the major foundational shapes. Something about a vivid blue foundation gives the temperature of the painting a good beginning. I don’t always start a painting monochromatically, but I know what is coming.
Glazing over the dried blues with transparent colors of rose, yellow and a little ultramarine violet was a visual feast. Everything happens so fast. Litchfield - C-flat Series - Michel McNinch - Original coastal painting.
Glazing over the dried blues with transparent colors of rose, yellow and a little ultramarine violet was a visual feast. Everything happens fast with colors ready and a 2 inch brush.
Glazing over the dried blues with transparent colors of rose, yellow and a little ultramarine violet was a visual feast. Everything happens so fast. Now that the glazed layer has dried, I begin to shape the clouds and put it their dark colors.Litchfield - C-flat Series - Michel McNinch - Original coastal painting.
Now that the glazed layer has dried, I begin to shape the clouds and put it their dark colors.
I spent a beautiful Saturday afternoon painting the sky. It is very wet now. I will make another pass over it when it has dried. So far – so good. I think I can hear the birds waking up and looking for breakfast.

So fellow art lover, this painting is making progress and now needs to dry. Should take about a week. I am returning to the animals in my home studio. Myrtle the turtle and Ollie the otter are next up on the easel. Is this the week they will be finished? Stay tuned.

Thank you very much for your interest in my painting practice. It feels great to be able to share it with you. Our work is done alone, but artists paint for you, the viewer. It is your story now.

I’ll be painting,

Michel

Michel McNinch
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24 Comments

  1. Bonnie Rossiter on February 10, 2024 at 10:18 pm

    Michel, thank you for sharing the steps of your process and I absolutely love the lucious colors, and such a tranquilizing composition; the gentle rolling in of a new day.



    • Michel McNinch on February 11, 2024 at 10:43 am

      Thank you Bonnie! Maybe it will be finished when you get back!



  2. Roxanne on February 10, 2024 at 10:29 pm

    Beautiful!



    • Michel McNinch on February 11, 2024 at 10:44 am

      Thank you. Fun, fun, fun.



  3. Alice Cottingham on February 11, 2024 at 11:20 am

    I’ve learned much about how you paint!



    • Michel McNinch on February 11, 2024 at 12:42 pm

      That makes me smile. It is a lifelong learning endeavor. I like to tell my students “if you are not having fun, you aren’t doing it right.” This one is fun.



  4. Dawn on February 11, 2024 at 12:30 pm

    Love seeing the stages of this beautiful painting.



    • Michel McNinch on February 11, 2024 at 12:43 pm

      Glad you have a front row seat. See you soon. Take Care.



  5. Robert McNinch on February 11, 2024 at 12:39 pm

    Love it! I love how you make the end of the waves when they meet the sand.



    • Michel McNinch on February 11, 2024 at 12:44 pm

      I thought they turned out good too. Now to keep them. : )



  6. Courtney on February 11, 2024 at 1:23 pm

    Beautiful – I love your process! Looks so peaceful too.



    • Michel on February 11, 2024 at 8:00 pm

      Thanks. It is a magnificent thing to watch.



  7. Barbie Smith Mathis on February 11, 2024 at 1:37 pm

    Such an Awesome painting. Love seeing your process!



    • Michel McNinch on February 11, 2024 at 8:02 pm

      Hello! Thank you. It is a fun approach. Sometimes I need more of a drawing, but this one had an easy breezy feel.



  8. Renee on February 11, 2024 at 1:39 pm

    Wow…great progress!



    • Michel on February 11, 2024 at 8:05 pm

      Thank you! Waiting for paint to dry is misery. But I have been painting other things. 😊



  9. Amy on February 11, 2024 at 1:52 pm

    H, wow! That is just glorious, Michel!



    • Michel McNinch on February 11, 2024 at 8:07 pm

      Thanks. Hard to go wrong with such a subject. Grateful to have been there.



  10. Dianne Meadow on February 11, 2024 at 2:11 pm

    Great composition!



    • Michel McNinch on February 11, 2024 at 8:08 pm

      Yes! Albala rules applied. Major s curve.



  11. Jeannie Irvin on February 11, 2024 at 7:00 pm

    WOW Michel!❤️ It’s BEAUTIFUL!!!!!🖼 It makes LITCHFIELD PROUD!!!💕🥰



    • Michel McNinch on February 11, 2024 at 8:09 pm

      Awe….thank you. So completely fun. ❤️



  12. Rachel Parker Varner on February 17, 2024 at 8:26 am

    These are so beautiful!



    • Michel McNinch on February 18, 2024 at 12:57 pm

      Thank you Rachel! I plan on taking the next steps this week. Hope all is well. Please tell your MIL I miss seeing her. Hope she is doing some fantastic painting.



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