Ship Inn and Back Beach Teignmouth

The light over the Teign estuary always gives me a new challenge. I usually stand on the sand and look out towards the water and the hills of Shaldon. This time, I decided to turn my back on the river and look towards the town instead. The Ship Inn and the colorful buildings along the Back Beach make such a strong subject. I loved how the old boats sat on the harbor floor, waiting for the tide to come back in and lift them up again.

I wanted the colors of the buildings to feel bright but natural. I used a mix of Cobalt Blue and Cerulean Blue for the cooler walls. To get that warm, earthy red on the left, I reached for some Burnt Sienna and a touch of Cadmium Red. The yellow building needed to pop, so I used Yellow Ochre with a tiny bit of Cadmium Yellow to keep it glowing even in the shadows. It is all about finding a balance between the bright painted wood and the grey stones of the quay.

The foreground was the most fun part to paint. The tide was out, leaving long shadows and tracks in the mud and gravel. I used Neutral Tint and Ultramarine Blue to create those deep, dark lines that lead your eye right into the middle of the painting. I kept the brushwork very loose here. A few dabs of white paint at the very end helped to show the light hitting the edges of the small boats. It creates a sense of life even when everything is still.

This original watercolor painting is now for sale.