Art attack

SALLY WEST CAPTURES A CLASSIC AUSSIE SCENE.

I painted this image en plein air at Freshwater Beach in Sydney one December. It was one of the hottest days in a long time – close to 40 degrees – and I could hardly stand the heat. At that time, I was painting regularly at the location and enjoyed capturing the large crowds cooling down at the beach. I set up my painting gear on the headland, looking down onto the sand and surf, and applied oil paint thickly and quickly with a palette knife onto a stretched canvas. I use a French easel when painting outdoors, and remember lizards running around me on the rock, and magpies hanging around the palette. This is part of my ongoing series of Australian beaches and plein air work. I’m interested in responding spontaneously to the environment. I enjoy the intensity of the process and am always naturally drawn to the ocean. I hope the viewer feels the energy of the beach that day as they look at the artwork.