Author

Stephen Quirke

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Boulders Beach is a hidden gem among the Cape Granite boulders on the coast near Simons Town.

This month I started a project on watercolours about False Bay.  Boulders Beach is the first port of call.  The first painting I did long ago was from a photo I took from the steps going up from the beach – which are now closed by the fence around the area because of the aliens who have invaded the space.

Watercolour of a woman on a rock

Girl on the Boulders at Boulders Beach

Watercolour on 300gm Arches Cold Pressed - 560 x 760 mm

Later I used the same scene to paint this view which is just over 1000×1000 mm.  I built a stretching board especially for working on these large paintings.  I had painting some large watercolours on 600gm Arches sheets – but they are very expensive.  So I wanted to try large, stretched sheets.   Here is the first one I did:

watercolour of a girl on a rock

Girl on the Rocks at Boulders Beach

Watercolour on Arches 300gm - more or less 1000 x1000 mm

Then I did another one also about 1000 x 1000 mm.
I also corrected the horizon.  That is Ark Rock in middle distance.

watercolour of a beach

As I mentioned above – this used to be an informal, relaxed family beach.  Then sometime around the turn of the century, the whole area was taken over by these guys who instituted a formal dress code.  It is very frustrating.

watercolour of penguins

Dress Code – Formal only

The penguins of Boulders Beach.

No really, these are Jackass Penguins – so named because they have a call that sounds just like a donkey. They are very cute. It is such a privilege for us to have them to decide to make their home on our beach.

Here is my latest painting of the view towards Elsies Peak and Fishhoek from the path overlooking Boulders Beach.

Watercolour of Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach looking towards Elsies Peak in Fishhoek Watercolour on 300gm Arches Cold Pressed 610 x 460mm