Long Beach

Long Beach. A 16 x 20 acrylic painting by Mark Phillips

Earlier this year I started painting a series of beach scenes around Barbados. The initial idea was to create a body of work known as the "Sea & Sand Collection". I started with Bottom Bay in St. Philip. Bottom Bay has already been sold and this is the next instalment of the collection.

Long Beach is situated on the South East Coast of Barbados in the parish of Christ Church. It is located at one of the most south-easterly points of the island. Long Beach is Barbados's longest beach but the lack of signage and amenities means that this beach is often deserted. Just the way I like it!

In 1986 or 1987 when the Barbados Defence Force held its first training course for the newly established Commando Squadron, Long Beach was used for one of the qualifying test, "The Obstacle Course". The other tests were the" 9-mile run" through St. Philip and St. John an the "30-mile run" which started at St. Ann's Fort in St. Michael, went through St. Thomas, St. Joseph, St. Andrew, St. John, St. Philip and ended in Christ Church in the clearing between the trees on top of the cliff shown in this painting. 30 miles to be done in 7 hours and 30 minutes.

The Obstacle Course started with a run across the entire length of Long Beach. Followed by a scramble up the cliff face you see in the painting and onto the obstacle course that is just behind the line of trees in the distance. I was a young Second Lieutenant, just back from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and I had a lot to prove. I passed all the tests and I even ran the 30 mile run and the 9-mile run a number of times after I had passed , just for fun, but I never attempted the Obstacle Course again. That was not fun!

I have been asked about my motivation to paint. To be honest the short answer is that I am making up for lost time. For far too many years I let "life" get in the way of art. I painted when I was in High School. I joined the military directly after school and that was the end of my practising art for many years. After the military I was trying to build my own business. I got married, (another full time job), and my last daughter was born. For the next 21 years, I would do the occasional drawing but nothing serious.

Then, one day last year, my grand-daughter asked me to help her with a project for her Art exams, and, to paraphrase the Mighty Chalkdust, I "took up my paint brushes again"  As I was working with my grand-daughter, I realised that, my daughter,  the young lady I had planned my whole life around for over 20 years no longer needed me in the same way. She had finished her studies and was now the youngest Registered Pharmacist in Barbados working with one of the largest companies on the island. She was well on her way and I still had a lot to offer. My Art could be my new focus and with the reach of Social Media and the Internet I could expose my work worldwide.

I do not find it difficult to start painting. I sit in my studio, turn on my favourite calypso or reggae music and start looking through the large file of reference photos that I keep on my computer until something catches my eye. I will then upload that photo or photos into my photoshop type software and compose a painting. So far this has not failed me. Once I start painting I just get lost in the process and I will work until I am reach a point where I feel I can do no more at the time. 

After 1 hour

After 3 hours

As I have said before, last week was a busy one for me outside of my studio. On Monday, I just started the first in my "These Fields & Hills" collection. This is a 11 x 14 acrylic painting and I have only done about 3 hours on it so far. It was the scene at sunset. As usual, I did a rough block in. (No sketch). Then I started to develop colours. Next, I will add some trees in the mid-ground and finally add the accents produced by the sunset. Hopefully, I will more to show you next time.

"The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power". Unknown

As always, thank you for reading. I appreciate the comments and the kind words of encouragement. Until next time when I will share some more of my work and a little of the history of this blessed place that I am privileged to call home, please leave a comment.  And, I will really appreciate if you share this post with your friends. To make sure that you don't miss any future posts, Please enter your email address in the subscribe by email box on the right.

Mark Phillips

Artist
Email:- mark@phillipsbajanart.com
Website:-www.phillipsbajanart.com
Online Store:- PhillipsArtStore