April sunset Cozumel island Mexico

I just returned from Cozumel for the third time. This trip was a little less of a tourist excursion and more of an artist excursion (although we did do a lot of snorkeling and a bit of scuba diving),  I spent more time on the wild east side of the island near the limestone arches at El Mirador and along the more serene beach at Punta Sur Parque west of the southern lighthouse. The Sea was calm(relatively) on both days.

As an art student  I read  about Van Gogh’s time in the south of France. I learned that  he was captivated by the light and color I am not sure I truly understood how that could happen until  my first visit to the  wild east shore of Cozumel with its vivid color contrast and bright tropical sun. The “Cozumel” light and color has had had a lasting impact on my ” painting Psyche”.  Hopefully in the weeks and months to come I can share some examples of Cozumel’s light and color as I feel and see it. The first struggle is finding the correct  pigment or color I have settled in with a couple of turquoise blues and greens along with my usual cobalt and ultramarine. I will see how the color in the next few paintings feel.   I am working larger “studio sized” works now. I made enough photographs and sketches for eight to ten large oil paintings while I was there. I have two underway in my studio now. One of the paintings really took on a VanGogh-esc feeling as I started to finish it. I really liked the way I was able to guide the paint around the water and rocks.  The painting I am referring to is of one of the arches near El Mirador on the east side of Cozumel.. I have included two photographs one of a sunset we enjoyed and one of a reef we snorkeled.

Beach View Cozumel 2011 #1, 20 x 30 oil on canvas

Arch View Cozumel 2011 #2, 20 x 30 oil on canvas

Wave View Cozumel 2011 #3, 20 x 30 oil on canvas

A bit of studio news… I shipped out another free painting to another lucky reader. She selected one of my ” Cozumel Wave ” paintings as her free painting. If you are interested in any of my Cozumel art  or having me create a painting from your  Cozumel photo contact me. I may give another painting or print away in the near future check the links at the top of my blog page for details.You may now purchase prints and cards of some of my painting s at  Fine Art America . To purchase any painting you see in my blog contact me .cozumel art

Punta sur reef, Cozumel, Mexico