The figures were my main interest at this location so did some pencil sketches of people at the site, in various poses. Eventually a group stood talking for a while in an ideal spot in the sunlight so made them the focus of the sketch, and then sketched the landscape lines and the shapes of the kayaks and paddle boards. After observing the main areas of sunlight and shadows, watercolour washes were added later.

This is basically a high key value painting to emphasize the bright sunlight. The background trees of the park have been simplified to form one large shape and painted without definition and in a cool neutral to provide depth to the sketch. Focus is on the figures and the boats, and the warm shadow in the foreground helps to define the light. Texture is created with the suggestion of seaweed on the beach, but loosely applied wet-in-wet.

W&N pigments: Aureolin Yellow, Rose Madder, Cobalt Blue, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, some Cerulean Blue, Fr. Ultramarine, and small amount of Winsor Red for the kayaks. Saunders Waterford 100% cotton paper 300gms.