Stylised yacht in stormy waters painting by artist Alan J. Benge

In this whimsical composition, I have tried to incorporate the idea of a rough day on the ocean wave.  Design elements, suitably stylised include curly wave shapes, triangle sails and spiky fish with a fierce sun overhead.  Menacing seagulls soar above the turbulent sea.  Use is made of stripes, zig-zags and circles.  It was fun to produce this light-hearted work, and may well inspire all those who sail yachts to wear their life jackets, and also, to take seasick pills !

Sketch of Hobart boat harbour, Tasmania by Alan J. Benge

This is primarily a fairly detailed pen and ink sketch that I drew whilst on a visit to Hobart.  It is near the area where the yachts in the Sydney Hobart race come into Constitution dock.  If you get the chance to stroll along the wharf area at Hobart, it's a colourful scene full of interest and variety.
On a sunny day, there is lots here to capture the eye of any artist. 
I felt a birds-eye view of the wharves would be effective, so I took an elevator to the top of a nearby hotel overlooking the harbour.  A pencil outline established the basic composition, with the boats in the mid foreground, plus buildings and hills forming the background interest.
Later, my trusty artist's toothbrush was employed to create a splatter texture, and then a light blue wash was brushed over the nearly completed work.  Red highlights were added in acrylics to provide keynotes for this painting. I worked on good quality illustration board.

Yacht painting, Couran Cove, Queensland by artist Alan J. Benge

Pen and ink rendition, plus colour washes was the technique that I used on my sketch of yachts, anchored at Couran Cove, on Queensland's Gold Coast.
I liked the way the red lines of the yacht contrasted with the blue shadows and water effects.  The lines depicting rigging helped tie the composition together.  Boat harbours are excellent places to find subjects for your easel -  so to all aspiring artists - get on deck, and castaway your inhibitions.  Get painting, and "launch" your artistic career !