Alright, so I wanted to share what I got up to with this whole ‘landscape coastal’ idea I had. It wasn’t some grand plan, more like I was just feeling a bit stuck, you know? Needed to get out and do something different, something with my hands, or at least my eyes, that wasn’t staring at a screen.
Getting Started (or Trying To)
So, I figured, “Coastal landscape, how hard can it be?” I’d seen all those pretty pictures, thought I’d give it a shot. My first idea was to just grab my old camera, head to the nearest bit of coast, and, you know, capture the magic. Famous last words.
The first time I went, I completely forgot to check the tide times. Rolled up all enthusiastic, and the sea was miles out. Just a whole lot of mud, really. Not quite the dramatic crashing waves I had in my head. Plus, it was freezing. My fingers were too numb to properly work the camera buttons after about ten minutes.
The Messy Middle Part
Okay, so attempt number one was a bit of a disaster. I didn’t give up, though. Stubborn, I guess. Next time, I checked the tides, even packed a flask of something hot. Thought I was being super prepared. This time, the light was just… flat. Everything looked dull. My photos looked like something a moody teenager would take. No offense to moody teenagers.
I even tried a bit of sketching. Bought a cheap pad and some pencils. Sat there, trying to draw a rock. A rock! And it looked more like a lumpy potato. It’s funny now, but at the time, I was getting pretty frustrated. You see these amazing artists making it look effortless, and then you try, and it’s just… well, it’s a process.
I spent a few weekends like this, heading out, trying different spots. Sometimes it was the weather, sometimes it was my own lack of skill, sometimes the seagulls were just too noisy and distracting. One time a dog ran off with one of my gloves. Just picked it up and legged it. I didn’t even bother chasing it; I was too busy trying to stop my easel from blowing over.
Figuring Some Stuff Out
But here’s the thing, after a while, I kinda stopped caring if the pictures or sketches were any good. It was more about just being there. Feeling the wind, smelling the sea, even if it was low tide and a bit whiffy. It was a break from the usual routine.
I started noticing little things. The way the light hit the water just before sunset, even on a cloudy day. The different colors in the sand. The weird shapes of the driftwood. I wasn’t producing masterpieces, not by a long shot. Most of my attempts ended up in the bin or deleted.
But I did get a couple of photos I didn’t totally hate. One was of an old, battered groyne, all covered in seaweed. Nothing special, but it felt like my photo. I’d battled the elements for that one, even if the battle was mostly just me trying not to slip on wet rocks.
So, What’s the Point?
So yeah, my ‘landscape coastal’ project. It wasn’t about becoming a great artist or photographer. It was more about pushing myself to do something, to get out of my own head for a bit. It was messy, often frustrating, and I definitely didn’t discover any hidden talents.
But I did get some fresh air. And I learned that sometimes, just trying something new, even if you’re not very good at it, is kind of the whole point. It shakes things up. And honestly, watching the waves, even when you can’t capture them perfectly, is still pretty decent. Better than staring at those same four walls, anyway.
