Shrimp

A few years ago I joined a group of painters in the Rockport/Fulton area of the Texas coast. I spent the majority of my time painting the activity around the shrimp boats. Last year I revisited some of the video and sketches that I did there. This is a small gouache inspired by the imagery. As I remember it the person on the right was the oldest and the hardest worker.

Boat Maintenance

Another painting from the Plein Air Austin retreat in Fulton, Texas this year.

Looking for Prey

Another painting inspired by my trip to Fulton, Texas with Plein Air Austin.

Timid

While the other birds were in the water fighting for food. This little one perched him/herself on the top of a boat. Timidly waiting for scraps. I worked quickly before he/she flew off.

In For The Evening

I worked with my watercolor painting and value sketches completed on site as a leaping off point for this piece. It works so much better than just taking a photograph.

Boat Rope

This is a boat still life. I printed a few photos from my trip to Fulton, Texas. I'm zooming in on the boats/vessels and how they work. I liked the way this rope looked in the light. I need to play with this image more to get used to painting rope.

In Need Of Repair

Initially, I was intrigued by the rear of this vessel. I ended up painting the front. The light was not that great but painting was fun. I think this one was the first one of the day on Saturday.

Seats In The Restaurant

These pelicans were in the prime area right next to the vessel as the fishermen threw unwanted catch back into the harbor waters. It was wild trying to get them down with the brush as they were constantly moving. I used Pelican watercolors and Windsor and Newton watercolor paper. $65.00

Cleaning The Catch

These two were helping clean the catch brought in by the fishermen. They would clean the shrimp place them in a basket and run them down to the bait shop. People actually gathered around to watch them work and or buy their share of the catch. I concentrated on painting and photographing them.

The Tires

After lunch I completed this one. I had cooled off and cleared my head of wind. Afterwards, I headed back to the harbor. This painting was the first of the afternoon.

Afternoon Harbor

On my last painting day in Fulton, Texas the last two paintings came from my Inktense pencil drawings. I was with Robin Cheers who painted in oil and Terri Wells who was working with watercolor. I did one more drawing after this one. I was exhausted. Two days in the wind and sun was exhilarating but tiring. I'm glad I went it was great painting, dining and just being with other painters. I think we all came away wanting another trip. I'm in.

Busy Bait Shop

This was the second painting completed last Friday upon my arrival in Fulton, Texas. I was busy laying in the basic structure of the building when this truck showed up. So I painted it in. A little girl was bouncing between two of us painters while I was painting this one. She was so excited to see people out painting. She was riding by with her mom and she demanded that her mom stop so that she could see what we were doing. She was so enthusiastic that her mom had to call her to go. Of course I invited her to join us. Maybe she is there now painting up a storm with her little easel while her mom patiently waits.

Before the Restaurant Opens

This guy showed up right before the Shrimpers. He stood still long enough for me to get him down in watercolor. I was working in the 5 by 7 format with a #6 ultra round made by Loew-Cornell. This was one of the nine paintings from Saturday in Fulton, Texas

Waiting For A Table

These birds were waiting as others were swooping down to get the scraps thrown off the boat by the fishermen. They were in the air water and perched on the boat. This is the only pastel completed during the painting trip. Normally I paint in pastel when out in the field. Its always good to change it up. Since the wind was blowing at 52 miles per hour it was easy to paint in watercolor and get bold color. The wind dried the surface pretty quickly.

Fulton Harbor Fishermen

These guys had just come in with a load of shrimp. The birds came in with them. Since the birds were concentrated on food I was able to get in a few sketches of them. I decided to paint these guys as they cleaned up their catch. My approach was to paint the shapes as opposed to people and vessel.

Fulton First PaintingT

his weekend I joined some members of Plein Air Austin to paint in and around Fulton, Texas. This was the first painting completed on Friday after driving down. The Fulton harbor is a working harbor. The crews and birds come in with the catch. I worked in watercolor for the most part with this trip. It was an adventure.