Home Sweet Home

There is something strange that takes me over at 4:30am in the morning. Some would think it is insomnia and roll over and go back to bed but for some reason the dawn calls me!  My first day back to reality after 6 weeks of holiday and I could not resist going for a plein air trip to paint the sunrise. Thankfully I have learned to keep my plein air kit packed and ready to go. Coolum Beach is home to me. One good thing about arriving there before 5 am - you get a great carpark.  With a flurry of setting up easels and pastels and choosing paper trying to beat the ever rising sun all of sudden there is peace. I am ready and here it comes. To paint the sunrise - you gotta be quick. I mean REALLY quick. No time for drawing up just pick up a pastel and go! I realise that I had  not replaced  a key colour that I dropped in Greece and had to compromise a little. No time to spend regretting not replacing it just paint. By the time one early riser on his morning walk passed by on the boardwalk and when he returned 10 minutes later - it was finished. Not sure if I was finished or the sunrise was finished but either way what is not captured on the paper is captured in my memory. Time to stop and enjoy the view.........Ahhhhh welcome home! 

---