Sint Maarten -- Part I

Vacation was relaxing and awesome.  And incredibly productive.  I did 9 painting/sketches of various sizes, including 3 while sitting on a catamaran (coming soon). 

Instead of my normal Daniel Smith watercolors, I brought a new palette of colors by M Graham watercolors (Highland Green, Bismuth Yellow, Cobalt Teal, Permanent Green Pale, Scarlet Pyrrol, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Violet, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Green, Alizarin Crimson, Quinacridone Gold and Burnt Sienna)  specifically because of the gorgeous cobalt teal, which was perfect for the clear Caribbean water. M Graham watercolors are made with natural blackberry honey to prevent them from drying out.  It was my first time really using these watercolors and they did really well, except for the Cobalt Green which never, ever dried in my palette and therefore leaked all over the place.  Good thing I kept them in a zip-loc baggie.

This was the view from my room, looking out to the far right.  I did have a view of Simpson Bay but could not see it sitting down.

                           Watercolor and pen & ink on paper 5.5x8.25

View of the Caribbean Sea

We spent most of the time hanging on the beach or floating in the Caribbean Sea.  I did a sketch of the view, sitting on a beach chair, looking to the right on the first day and the view to the left on the last day.  Connecting them would give a full view of the little horseshoe bay where we sat most days.

                       Watercolor and pen & ink on paper 5.5x8.25

                       Watercolor and pen & ink on paper 5.5x8.25

View of Simpson Bay and the "Hills"

The view of the "mountains" were a close second to the sea itself.  Not sure if these are Sint Peter Hill or Sentry Hill, but I enjoyed watching the clouds drift in the sky to make the shadows flows across these "hills".  

                       Watercolor and pen & ink on 180 lbs paper 9x12
 

                        Watercolor and pen & ink on paper 3.5x5.5