Paula Oakley captures the essence of the beach in her painting Beach Garden. The painting, which showcases several houses on a diagonal horizon line, combines bold colors with exceptional use of perspective. Accents along the painting help to drive the eye to various locations, but always bring the viewer back to the main theme.
Looking at the painting, you are immediately given a strong perspective line. This line runs from the bottom right to the top left of the painting, cutting it in half diagonally. However, Paula Oakley has skillfully and strategically chosen not to have the canvas cut from corner to corner, as this would cause unnatural skewing of the buildings that are the focus. Additionally, the artist has chosen to use strong competing lines on the decks of the houses to first draw the eye away from the buildings to the foliage of the scene, and then to draw the eye back.
To fill the negative space created by having a strong diagonal line through the canvas, the artist has used green colors at the base. The plant life of the painting all points to the main focal point. On the top of the canvas, the seagulls and clouds are noncompetitive, placed in such a way that the eye is drawn back to the main focal line.
A combination of bold colors and patterns makes this painting visually stimulating. From the first building, the viewer finds that there is a clash between main building and the doors, or vice versa. This clash is not aesthetically challenging though, as the theme of the beach is accented by doing so. Note how the white building in the foreground has the boldest colors and contrast and how these contrasts are dulled down as the eye travels into the background. True, you have some of the boldness between the main building and the door in the midground of the painting, but even here the difference between the subject of the foreground and this area is substantial.
Stylistically, this painting is a landscape piece. Yet, there is also a sense of fantasy to the piece. Again, the strong colors and the muted details of some of the parts of the painting, specifically the birds in the painting, lend to a dreamlike ambiance to the painting. The realism of the buildings gives the piece a heightened level of visual stimulation. With each building the viewer can see the details and brushstrokes of the artist.
Visually stunning with a subject matter which transports the viewer to the beach, Paula Oakley has captured her scene remarkably well. To find out more about this painting we asked the artist to elaborate by answering the following questions.
Stylistically, this painting differs from others that you have done. Can you please explain your inspiration for this piece and why you chose to paint it in the style in which you did?
I loved the bold bright colours of the beach huts in the bright Summer sun and how nature seemed to thrive in such an unexpected place . It required bold blocks of colour to contrast with the softness of the flowers.
What artist most inspires your artwork? Is there a specific style which to try to mimic when you paint, or is the subject matter strictly based on what you have seen and experienced in the countryside?
My work is all about what I see and capturing it on canvas. Actually being there means I am able to incorporate all the elements of my surroundings into my work, light, shade, plants, wildlife, colours, details.
For some, acrylic blends are hard to accomplish due to the quicker drying of the paint and the paint’s overall makeup. As an artist who uses acrylics, can you please explain how you created the blending of shadows and highlights within this piece as well as any challenges you faced when creating this painting.
I don’t blend the acrylics, I build up layers of colour. I paint 3-4 layers to achieve an opaque base allowing each coat to dry before the next application. Once dry I can start adding shading ,highlights and details. My biggest challenge on this piece was the heatwave! It was a real challenge trying to keep the paint fluid. I was getting up at 4am so I could paint before it got too hot!
View more artwork by Artist Paula Oakley
