Wednesday, April 6, 2016

A Nice Day at the Beach

My blog friend Gracie and I swim together and chat while we're paddling back and forth and we have been saying for quite a while now that we should do a day trip somewhere fun.  As we both love the beach we decided just last week that the time was right - the weather has been nice - so we picked yesterday for our adventure.  We headed out before noon planning to have lunch in Cannon Beach at my favorite restaurant - the Wayfarer - Gracie had never been there.  It's got wonderful seafood and a killer view of Haystack Rock.  


Someone else had "my" table in the corner with the best view, but we still had a nice view of the ocean.  Gracie tried a fresh caught tuna salad and I had beer battered halibut and prawns.  Num!


After lunch we walked outside and snapped a few photos of Haystack Rock.. I've never seen it so green!


Heading back to the car I saw some Salal, this is a native plant found all over at the coast, the Indians used the berries extensively in their diet.  Read more about it HERE.


We saw this big sculpture of a Puffin and both snapped a shot of it.  They are to be found on our coast but are a rare treat to see.



We both brought our watercolors and paper and brushes and I took Gracie to a favorite beach park south of Cannon Beach at the Tolovana Beach Wayside.  I had in mind that we'd park on the water view end but all the spaces were taken, then I noticed a man had parked next to Mo's restaurant and he'd backed his car in and he had the PERFECT view of Haystack Rock from his car - luckily when I decided to park next to him.. he pulled out.. and I back my car in and was triumphant in the perfect spot for us to paint.  We'd brought folding chairs but the wind was blowing and it was fairly chilly.. so we got all settled in our seats and painted for two hours! :-)  We left the windows cracked open so we still had fresh air but were warm.  The other good part was it wasn't restaurant or park parking, just roadside so we weren't in anyone's way.



I was amazed at how many people were enjoying the beach, but it is spring break in Washington so I gathered that's why it was so busy.


I just love this big rock.



Way out past the rocks is this decommissioned lighthouse, it's rather spooky and definitely interesting.  It's called the Tillamook Rock Light - it's story is HERE.


Here is my painting in the works.  I laid my big clipboard over the steering wheel and went to work.  I got this wonderful Rembrandt paint box, the colors are wonderful and intense and I love using them.  It was a challenge to do the ocean, leaving white spaces to indicate the waves breaking.



Here is Gracie working on her painting.. she had this wonderful wooden table easel.. 



Two hours flew by as we worked away.. it was fun!


I asked a passerby if he'd snap a photo of us both with our paintings with the view we tried to capture behind us.  :-)


As we packed up our paints and brushes and other supplies I snapped a shot of the late afternoon sun shining off the Pacific Ocean.  Then we headed south to Tillamook.  We drove by Hug Point SP (State Park), Oswald SP, Manzanita, Nehalem Bay SP, Nehalem, Wheeler, Rockaway Beach, Garibaldi, Bay City, then Tillamook.  We actually had wanted to get an ice cream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory but it closed at 6 pm and we pulled into the lot at 6:03 - but the doors were still open and we raced in and ordered.  I asked the girls when they really close and she said if customers are still coming in they stay open until 6:30.  :-)  Have you ever had ice cream for dinner?  If not.. you should!



What a fun day we had!  I think some more painting adventures should happen.  I'm wondering where next?  Any ideas or suggestions?  Here is a shot of my picture.. I think I need to frame it!  I'm no Winslow Homer.. but it's fun.


Well.. gotta pack my swim bag and head off soon!  What are you up to today?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

25 comments:

  1. Sounds like a really fun day. So glad you showed us the paintings. Interesting how different they are. Both quite good!

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  2. Oh my goodness, what a fun filled day you and Gracie had! Love both of your paintings. Such talented ladies!! As always, I thank you for sharing your beautiful part of this country with us. :)

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  3. I LOVED this post Teresa, what a fantastic day, and in such a beautiful place. You are both such good painters, and what a wonderful way to spend an afternoon together. I interviewed a local artist the other day for a local magazine and he said that he always likes to paint when he goes on holiday as a memento. The dog in your picture reminds me of the book Noisy Dog by Selina Young. She did quite a few gorgeous sea/dog pictures for her books, I absolutely love them. Glad you had such a good day. You should definitely do more art trips I think. CJ xx

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  4. Okay. I know jealousy isn't a nice thing, but girls, I AM SO JEALOUS of you. You're at my coast, together. Eating fresh seafood. Chatting. So much fun. I don't paint at all, but I could sit quietly, or maybe not so quietly in the back seat and knit. I have never seen Haystack rock that green either. Maybe because it's so early in the spring? Both of your paintings are gorgeous. What a great idea for you to spend the day at the beach. I wish Dennis and I could stay longer when we come to visit next week and visit our favorite places, but I'm just happy to be seeing you girls. Love you both.
    Blessings always,
    Betsy

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  5. What a great day out Teresa and such fun to paint with a friend. Your finished picture is really lovely x

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  6. That was a fabulous day for you and dear Gracie and do love that rock and your paintings were fantastic! Oh it sure gave me a smile reading this post and pretending I was along for a nice day out ☺☺

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  7. What a great day out with a friend! You are so talented! You use your creativity in so many areas. I like the details in your painting. Odds and ends being dealt with here on our spring break. So nice to just be off from work.

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  8. Ice cream for dinner and a beautiful watercolor painting are perfect ways to end a wonderful day out with a friend. You and Gracie are so cute!

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  9. Teresa, you are such an inspirational and talented lady. So talented!! I love your painting and agree - yes you should fame it. I didn't realise you lived close to the sea as well as the mountains. Such a pretty place. I'm in Sydney for a few days - going to a forum to do with computers tomorrow. Just wish I could manage to walk around the shops while I'm here. Really need to get the other hip replaced then there'll be no stopping me. xox

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  10. What a fun afternoon!!! Both paintings are terrific!!! Such a pretty place to capture in watercolor!!
    XOnKris

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  11. Looks like you ladies had an excellent day at the beach:) Love the Wayfarer--although it's been years since I have been there and Tolovana Beach Wayside is always nice. You are SO lucky to have found parking at Cannon Beach! Great painting:)
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  12. Such a great day out and fun to share a hobby with a friend. Both of you talented ladies. What a stunning coastline, you certainly live in a beautiful part of the world.

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  13. So happy youshared the painting by the Sea day. You two are really good at capturing the feel of the place. So inviting! Glad you shared this time. Ice cream for dinner.....mmmmm
    Mint chocolate chip please

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  14. How nice! I'm so glad you had the chance to spend the day together. Painting together sounds like a very nice thing to do. Thanks for sharing your day with us, ladies.

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  15. What a fun day! and taking your paints and easels? great idea! Your paintings are both lovely. A drive all the way down the Oregon coast would be fun, stopping here and there for paint the scenic vistas.. there are so many! Pacific City has a big huge rock and sand dunes and the dory boats come in at certain times....Depoe Bay is awesome for painting....there is the Newport Bridge, and south of Newport lots of places with stunning vistas and the Heceta Lighthouse about 8 miles north of Florence would be a painters eye candy! Have you been up along the Washington coast? Westport, WA up north of Raymond is the neatest little town with a harbor and wharfs with boats "parked".. so picturesque and would be fun to paint! Of course, you would need to take a week to see it all and paint it!

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  16. Isn't spending the day with good friends just the best thing! So glad you had such a great time. Your paintings are beautiful and you should definitely both frame them! A lovely memento of your day! xx

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  17. Oh my goodness . . . that was one of those prefect days and you ladies look like you were enjoying every minute. I love Cannon Beach, but then who doesn't, right? When I smell that salty air and walk on the beach I feel young again. If there is a fountain of youth, I think it is the Pacific Ocean :)

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  18. What a lovely day. Both of the paintings are lovely. I like how each of you had a different perspective for the foreground. The area where you live is so beautiful. :)

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  19. I really enjoyed reliving our day together by reading through this post! You truly are a talented woman, mentor, and friend, Teresa. I want to be doing more painting and stitching with you now, but need to go tackle some paperwork...sigh :) xx

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  20. What a fun getaway for you and Gracie. Your paintings are lovely! I love the beach as well. Glad it was nice weather for you. Megan was out at the tulip farm yesterday. I planned to go later today but decided against it as I've been tired lately and hopefully weather will be good next week to go out there. See you soon, my friend!

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  21. What a fun day! You are both very talented, I love that you were warm and cozy, sharing good conversation and painting away.
    Hugs to you Teresa,
    Meredith

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  22. That looks like a very wonderful, relaxing, fun day you two had. Great views and perfect paintings. You both did a fantastic job.

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  23. What a lovely day out I think both your paintings are very good. :) x

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  24. I am a sketcher, too, so I feel qualified to say that your work is wondeful. Lovely use of color, interesting composition. Just beautiful!

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