Description
Siren’s Vista
oil on canvas
152 x 92 4cm
2023
I made this painting using my own photos taken while swimming in the North Sea, with a waterproof camera. I wanted to capture the bulging waves looming overhead which I consider an exciting part of sea swimming. The hypnotic undulations are very calming and exciting and are the reason I adore sea swimming so much.
The North Sea is really very green and as a recoil to my dislike of very blue sea paintings I have embraced this and exaggerated it. As I swim at dawn very often, I see skies blanketed in grey shrouds, with the softest blues, pinks and purples which I have tries to capture as a receding backdrop to the drama of the wave. Siren’s Vista is in reference to a presence presiding over this sea view.
For a long time I have also taken pictures of my shadow- I hate selfies – so this too is depicted here. On occasion I forget my waterproof camera and so am prone to using my iphone to take ‘danger shots’ in the waves, lifting it high just before the wave engulfs me. The shadowy figure here is doing just that.
Pink seaweed is a common sight along the Norfolk coast and floats around, sometimes getting caught between my toes. I love its colour and have painted it here against the green water.
Painted on a deep edged canvas with neatly painted white edges.
