Chasing the Lowcountry Light ~ As daylight turns to twilight!
Chasing the Lowcountry Light by William R. Beebe, 24 x 36 Oil on canvas, SOLD
Chasing the Lowcountry Light depicts two Great Egrets chasing each other along the winding tidal marsh toward the setting sun. Low tide has come and gone (prime feeding time) and they are romantically off to a distant location to settle in for the evening. Meanwhile the solitary Great Blue Heron is content to stand guard over his domain, well into the night.
Tall spartina grass is the only vegetation that can survive the harshness of the surrounding saltwater. It is a perennial grass that dies off in late fall and winter, turning colors from summer green, to golden, to brown. The golden hour warm light highlights the changing colors, making the golden tips light up.
Tides are always changing the flow of water in the Lowcountry. The pluff mud on the right side of the painting will eventually be covered with water during high tide. It happens so slowly as to go unnoticed. Here the water is flat calm with strong reflections.
Expansive views and welcomed silence are only broken by the loud squawks of these large wading birds. Fortunately, the Lowcountry marshes are rich resources of food for all kinds of wading and seabirds. They can be spotted in significant numbers year round.
With the expansive views comes dramatic sunrises and sunsets with all kinds of wonderful cloud formations. I am continually inspired and awed by the limitless scenes of winding tidal marshes with dramatic skies that we are blessed with here in the Lowcountry .
Chasing the Lowcountry Light is a commissioned painting. I worked closely with my client who helped describe her desires as far as composition and color palette, leading me to choose this particular marsh. I enjoyed painting it immensely.
I hope the painting evokes a sense of calmness and transports you to a happy place . Thank you for reading my journal and for interest in my art! Please check back soon to see what’s next on my easel!
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion….”
What’s next?
Drawing by William R. Beebe