In the previous blog post I was telling you about our trip to Dubrovnik in August 2022. I found the area near our hotel in Lapad inspiring to paint. There was something about the contrast between the rugged rocks and the turquoise waters very engaging. I was also taken by the trees that could provide shade for the sunbathers basking in the sun. Although we did make several trips into the old town of Dubrovnik, we spent most of the time relaxing near the hotel. There was an easy walk that hugged the bay around Lapad that took you to various other hotels. We would set off to find a suitable spot to sit and paint from.
There was one particular place that I found for Susan. She didn’t feel confident in getting into the sea, however she did enjoy dangling her legs into the cooling waters. On the last day I did a sketchbook watercolour of her doing exactly that, looking into the afternoon sun with the waves lapping around her. I do find painting on location on beaches a joyful experience.
This became the subject for the annual handmade card I painted for her Christmas 2022.
There’s something about trying to capture the waves, sky and beaches that is so stimulating and invigorating. Whether it’s Ullapool, Key West or Barka in Oman, I find I’m in my element.
