Three beach umbrellas

Observing the Shore: A Trio of Parasols

Sometimes, the simplest subjects provide the most interesting challenges in translation. Three beach umbrellas are a study in that very concept. When I looked at this scene, it wasn’t just about capturing umbrellas on sand, but observing the interplay of structures against the sea. The image is structured on the fundamental lines of the coast: a wide strip of yellow ochre for the sand, a solid blue block for the sea, and a pale, slightly scrubbed blue-grey for the sky.

The umbrellas themselves were the main focus. I wanted to see how three distinct, primary colours—red, cobalt, and yellow—would sit within that defined horizontal composition. In executing the brushwork, particularly within Three beach umbrellas, the goal was not high realism, but a strong, deliberate impression. The red parasol is painted with bold, saturated strokes, capturing the heat of that specific fabric. The blue umbrella shifts in tone, almost absorbing the depth of the sea beneath it, rendered with heavy paint that speaks to its structure. The yellow umbrella, by contrast, needed to feel lighter, almost translucent, letting the sky elements show through slightly.

There’s a rhythm to their placement that I aimed to realise. It’s not a symmetrical line-up. The red sits forward, casting a slight shadow; the yellow is slightly angled, almost leaning into the breeze. In Three beach umbrellas, even the dark specks of sand near the poles serve to ground the structures and define the perspective, a small detail I spent time getting right. It’s a quiet reflection on a familiar subject, seeking the underlying structure and colour rather than the spectacle.