Point of the Arches—August Sunset

October 2022

Brian Mahieu

Point of the Arches—August Sunset
October 2022
Olympic Coast Series, number four
Shi Shi Beach
oil on canvas
12 X 16 X 1.5 inches
Private collection

Walking among these massive sea stacks at sunset, the tide just beginning to come back in, I am struck by the scale and otherworldly quality of the landscape—This volcanic landscape born of cataclysm. Rows of metamorphic rock tilting out of the sand draw the eye to towering sea stacks topped with ancient trees, and concealing sea caves within. The sea stacks, composed of rock one hundred and forty four million years old, have faces repeating the same angles in the foreground stones.  

In this piece I used molten colors contrasted with violet and blue tones to echo the fiery creation of this site. Bravura brushwork and impasto paint further communicate the energy and power of the coastal landscape. I am so pleased with this evocation of my favorite spot in our state, and a beautiful evening spent on that reflective plane between the fiery skies and pounding surf.  

Close-ups Showing Detail and Texture

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