The Edge of the Deep Green Sea III, ©John O’Grady
16″ x 16″ x 1.5″ acrylic on canvas, ready to hang
SOLD
Standing on the cliffs, high above the sea, listen.
The waves crash against the rocks, back and forth.
The ocean breeze whistles in the air.
The pulse of nature takes hold of us…
The ocean, shifting from the turbulent white spume to the immensity of the turquoise green sea, stretches out towards darkness.
Where does the night end? What is beyond?
Then, our eyes begin to adjust.
Notice a faint glow and soon, a chink of light that cleaves the horizon in two.
Is it a new day coming at the Edge of the Deep Green Sea?
Spectacularly atmospheric and stirring. You have painted the air, John! — iridescent with spray. This engages all the senses; I am there, in this vertiginous wild place. The colors are intoxicating; the strange glimmering line of light in the distance splits the darkness. I’d rather its source remain a mystery. Just fantastic, John.
Hello Jo, I love the idea of painting the air!
It’s great to hear that the painting transports you there, yes the strange light in the distance took a while to get to where I wanted it. Trying a variety of colours, until I tried Hansa yellow with its greenish tinge, it fitted perfectly.
Thank you for your comment
I love this painting, John, the deeply saturated colors partly concealed by a pearly mist, the viewer’s angle from on high along steep cliffs and depths of ocean to a distant place of light, the greenest slope melting towards the lively sea . It reminds me of an island off the coast of Maine where I have just been and also of other places where water, cliffs, land and sky meet in joyous poetry. Thank you for sharing this beauty, John.
Hello Rachel,
I believe the Maine coastline is beautiful and rugged, drawing many artists to it for inspiration. It’s lovely to hear my painting reminded you of your recent stay there.
Thank you for your insights on the painting.
Wonderful, reminiscent of rugged coastlines I have seen over my life…especially off Portland in Dorset and parts of Ireland.
Can almost smell the tang of the sea ! X
Hello Julia
I know how much you like the part of the world around Portland, it’s great to hear the painting reminds you of it. Thank you very much
Wonderful John! It is a painting full of the exuberance of nature; cliffs rising up or plunging down, the constant ebb and flow of the sea, the springy cliff top grasses, the velvety green reaching down to the shoreline in the Irish way and then … here comes the morning sun as it filters softly through the sea mist to produce a gift which delights- a rainbow. It is exhilarating and it is all captured exquisitely in paint with such beauty and imagination. Thank you and congratulations.
Hello Chris
Thank you very much. It’s lovely to read your comment on the painting. You describe it so well, that special moment when the morning sun first ‘filters through the sea mist’