The Hidden Colours of Mawgan Porth: An Afternoon Painting by the Sea
There is something rather special about painting outdoors in Cornwall. No two days are ever quite the same, and sometimes the most beautiful colours reveal themselves when you least expect them.
Today I spent a lovely afternoon painting en plein air at Mawgan Porth beach. After a sunny morning, the light softened, giving the landscape an almost ethereal quality.
Finding Colour in a Grey Afternoon
At first glance, the scene appeared to be a gentle mixture of greys and blues. But the longer I observed, the more colours began to emerge.
Soft blues, delicate pinks and subtle lavender tones were reflected across the wet sand. The headlands appeared muted against the sky, while the shallow water caught little flashes of light and colour.
One of the things I love about being an artist is discovering just how much we can overlook when we assume we already know what something looks like.
A grey afternoon is rarely simply grey. Once we really begin to observe, an extraordinary variety of colour, texture and light becomes visible.
The Pleasure of Painting Outdoors
Another wonderful part of painting at Mawgan Porth is meeting the people who stop to look and chat.
Today was particularly lovely because several young children came over, curious to see what I was doing and how the painting was developing.
There is something delightful about that natural curiosity. Children often approach art with wonderful openness, asking questions and noticing things that adults might overlook.
It's one of the reasons I enjoy both painting and teaching. Art encourages us to look more closely, ask questions and discover things for ourselves.
Learning to See, Not Simply to Look
Through my Visual Awareness approach to art education, I encourage students to develop their understanding of observation, perspective, colour and the psychology of seeing.
Rather than simply following someone else's technique, the aim is to understand the fundamentals of art so that each person can develop their own individual approach.
Painting outdoors is a wonderful reminder of this. The changing light, reflections and subtle shifts in colour constantly challenge our assumptions.
Knowledge gives us choices. Understanding gives us freedom.
Art at the Beach, Mawgan Porth
Today's painting captures one of those quieter moments along the Cornish coast, with soft reflections stretching across the sand between the headlands.
Cornwall doesn't always need dramatic waves and spectacular sunsets to be beautiful. Sometimes the gentlest colours and the simplest moments offer the greatest inspiration.
I'm Jeanni Grant-Nelson, a Cornwall artist and art teacher. Alongside creating original artwork inspired by the Cornish coast, I offer art lessons at Mawgan Porth, private tuition, live Zoom lessons and online art courses exploring the fundamentals of art.
Discover more about my artwork and approach to teaching at www.visual-awareness.com.
