While the two feet of snow on the ground has been slowly melting away here in southern New Hampshire, I've been dreaming and painting of far away beaches.
Kristina Wentzell,
the best beach 5, oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2011
A few years ago, my family had the opportunity of living in Australia for a short time when my husband received an international research fellowship from the National Science Foundation. We ended up in Western Australia, the little inhabited coast of that country, in September (springtime down under).
our first glimpse of the Indian Ocean
We started our stay with a family adventure by renting a camper van and driving a thousand miles up the largely uninhabited coast. Our first glimpse of the Indian Ocean on day one of our trip was magical...pure white sands, turquoise waters, and not a soul around for miles. We spent the days driving up the coast, through the desert, marveling at the amazing sunburned colors of the earth, spotting kangaroos, lizards and multitudes of jewel colored birds, and the nights camping on the beach gazing at the southern stars.
my two little charges at Shell Beach
Shell Beach, Monkey Mia
gifts of the sea
Coral Bay Beach
I painted these simple beach scenes with inspiration from my Australia days but also with the hope that they would bring back memories of your favorite beach.
The beaches of Western Australia rank up at the top for me, but I also have others, the coast of Maine (with its many beaches: Popham, Scarborough, Wells, Reid), or the lovely beaches of New Hampshire's short coastline where we now take our little charges in the summer, or a very special beach on a tiny island in the British Virgin Islands where we were married.
Where is your best beach?
Kristina Wentzell,
the best beach 4, oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell,
the best beach 3, oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell,
the best beach 2, oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell,
the best beach, oil on canvas, 6 x 12 inches. ©2011
These paintings are available through my
100 Paintings for $100 or Less Project.
Kristina Wentzell, birds on a wire, 6 x 12 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, storm's coming 2, oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, cardinal 3, oil on canvas, 6 x 6 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, cardinal, oil on canvas, 5 x 5 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, cherry on top, oil on canvas, 4 x 4 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, sprinkles, oil on canvas, 4 x 4 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, cupcake 2, oil on canvas, 4 x 4 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, cupcake, oil on canvas, 4 x 4 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, at the closing of the day, oil on canvas, 9 x 9 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, the best beach 5, oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2011
our first glimpse of the Indian Ocean
my two little charges at Shell Beach
Shell Beach, Monkey Mia
gifts of the sea
Coral Bay Beach
Kristina Wentzell, the best beach 4, oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, the best beach 3, oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, the best beach 2, oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches. ©2011
Kristina Wentzell, the best beach, oil on canvas, 6 x 12 inches. ©2011
