Painting rocks close-up.

@Patrick McSherry Thank you - I was surprised that the water surging onto the shore did look transparent when I stepped back from the painting.

@Tiago De paula It was painted mostly with gouache using just a few watercolour paints because they have stronger "darks" and cleaner saturation.

The background hills may be a little too dark. But your rocks are quite realistic. Rocks are difficult!

@Mary Canedy Maybe Sam needs to have a lesson on how to paint close-up rocks?

I have painted "off and on" for most of my life (my mother was a landscape painter) but had a big gap after a number of years of focusing on art printing, primarily collagraphs. I'm retired now and have recently become quite involved in climate action here in Melbourne. Perhaps thinking about the many beautiful places around the world that are slowly being destroyed (forests, coral reefs, coastal erosion etc.) as our planet heats up made me turn to painting again - to record and appreciate its beauty? I came across Sam's website on social media and watched quite a few of his videos before deciding to join. I am really enjoying the helpful live online classes and the enthusiasm of the students. It's so interesting seeing what others are doing too.

I think the detail you have here really adds the the realism, personality and the fluffiness.