That day at the beach, I wanted to get some pressure-free, live watercolor practice painting people in public without worrying about perfection. It was the kind of day that made plein air painting feel easy: overcast, not too hot, and the light was soft enough that the paper wasn’t blinding in the sun.
It was quiet, really—just us and a few others wandering the shore looking for shark teeth. Every so often, someone would shout in excitement when they found one. Nobody held still for long, which made it great practice for painting quickly and staying loose.
The Painting Process
I brought my usual travel setup: my trusty watercolor block (an 8×8 and a 4×6), my compact travel kit, and just the essentials. I actually made a YouTube video showing off this kit, and it’s become my go-to for plein air days like this.
Both paintings were completed in about an hour, total. No sketches or color studies, just straight in with watercolor and a bit of fine pen work to pull out the gestures. My goal was to capture movement more than detail—a moment in motion, not a posed portrait.
The Subjects
I ended up making two paintings: one of my in-laws, and the other of my kids playing in the water and sand. The kids were in constant motion, splashing and laughing, which pushed me to paint faster and focus on gesture and rhythm instead of exact shapes. The smaller painting of the kids was actually easier, with less pressure and more room for happy accidents.
Reflections
This session was a small but meaningful step toward one of my bigger goals: building confidence in painting people in public spaces. I’d love to get comfortable enough to paint in places like pubs or street corners, just capturing moments as they happen.
What I learned this time is simple: you have to go with it. The environment, the light, the people, everything changes, and that’s what makes plein air painting alive. It’s less about accuracy and more about catching a feeling before it disappears.
I’m not much of a beach guy, but the kids love it. This gave me something to focus on while they played, and in the end, I left feeling accomplished, like I’d managed to capture a small piece of that day.