7am in the summer time and the sun is already quite high but there is some warm interesting light. 

Driving down to the coast I thought I’d check out Langstone first before I went further along the coast towards Bosham. But this scene grabbed me and I could envisage it on the upright format. I knew I didn’t have long before the sun would be out of my picture and the tide was rapidly emptying! 

I started blocking in the main elements that are going to change. I put the horizon in first just above a 3rd up and then the boats. The clouds made a lovely pattern around the sun which I sketched in. Also the shape of the mud flats I like the little opening of water which leads the eye in. 

Here is a pic after initial start.

I spent an hour and 20 minutes painting on location but by then the tide was gone and the sun had moved it was a different painting. So I stopped and completed that afternoon in my studio while it was still fresh.

11×22″