I spent a lot of time at the beach this winter. The kids enjoy it, and we’re there for short bits in the day, so I settle down, and get out my sketchbook. ( I don’t mind the occasional dip, but the water in winter is a bit cold for my liking)
Here are all my sketches of beaches and, in no particular order, some general observations.
Oahu by far is the most “people-filled beaches” island I’ve been to.
Beaches make people really happy.
Over the last few years, I see lots of people religiously applying sunblock and far fewer sunburnt people at the beach. Yay!
Lots of people at the beach seem to stand around with their hands on their hips.
Phones are everywhere: isn’t it hard to read on a phone in the bright sun?
More sketches from Oahu coming soon.
Sketch Away: Travels with my sketchbook 
Love it. And people do seem to stand with hands on hips at beaches!
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These are fantastic! Super well done on so many levels. This is really hard to do. I just came back from Oahu on business and attempted quick beach sketches myself and found it really challenging. No one stays still for long. Everything is a bit fluid. Lots of color and motion. Kudos to you!
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Your beach scenes are a good antidote for my Minnesota winter blues. Thanks! How do you control paper buckling while using a wc pad?
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I use a Stillman and Birn beta book and the paper is thick. I’ve had no significant buckling issues. (I don’t prewet pages of work in a traditional watercolor washes style, though)
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I just love the colors of your palette! Thanks for sharing with us!
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Wonderful sketches! I like how you just keep drawing and fill up the page till there’s no more room! They make great vignettes and reference for possible future paintings. VERY nice!
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Wow, your winter break in Oahu sounds fantastic! I love how you took the time to document your experiences through your location drawings and urban sketches. Your sketches are so beautiful and they truly capture the essence of the beaches in Oahu.
I especially appreciated your observation about the high number of people at the beaches in Oahu. It’s great to see that people are making the most of their time at the beach and that they seem to be enjoying themselves. I also agree with your observation about the increase in sun safety practices. It’s fantastic to see more and more people taking care of their skin.
One observation I’d like to add to your post is the fact that the beach is a great place for people to relax and disconnect from technology. While it’s true that phones are everywhere, I think it’s also important to take breaks from screens and to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature. The beach provides a great opportunity to do just that.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and observations with us. Your blog post is incredibly helpful and I can’t wait to see more sketches from Oahu!
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