My Stormy Ocean Sunrises exhibition is currently underway at The Blue Mirror Gallery Cafe, 153 Auckland Street, Gladstone Qld. it will continue until 30th September 2023.
Below: The 1st five rows (15 artworks) are acrylic on canvas in various sizes. The next two rows (6 artworks) are well sealed pastel on canvas - 30.5 x 40.5cm. The next two rows (6 artworks) are well sealed charcoal on canvas - 40.5 x 40.5cm. The next two rows (6 artworks) are pen and watercolour - 29.7 x 42cm. The next row (3artworks) are ballpoint pen - 21 x 29.7cm. The next three rows (9 artworks) are lino prints, some with coloured pencil - 29.7 x 42cm.
Below: The 1st five rows (15 artworks) are acrylic on canvas in various sizes. The next two rows (6 artworks) are well sealed pastel on canvas - 30.5 x 40.5cm. The next two rows (6 artworks) are well sealed charcoal on canvas - 40.5 x 40.5cm. The next two rows (6 artworks) are pen and watercolour - 29.7 x 42cm. The next row (3artworks) are ballpoint pen - 21 x 29.7cm. The next three rows (9 artworks) are lino prints, some with coloured pencil - 29.7 x 42cm.
Poetry
These poems are included in the book that accompanies the exhibition.
These poems are included in the book that accompanies the exhibition.
Approaching Ocean Storm at Dawn
The heavy clouds are rolling in
To greet us as dawn is breaking.
Golden colours thread through the clouds
Lighting up the day just starting.
The glistening sea is calm for now.
People walk and fish on the shore.
A solo canoeist paddles
While watching the approaching storm.
To enjoy the colours of the dawn
Before the storm and beach align
And all the people head for home
Happily, there’s plenty of time.
Before the fury of the winds
Whip the ocean into frenzy
With churning foamy crashing waves
No longer safe for people to be.
Ripping small yachts from their moorings
Throwing large sea vessels around
Grabbing dinghies from the shoreline
With waves reaching to higher ground.
Until then let us all relax
To watch the dawn colours unfold
Against the contrasting dark waves
Brilliant red, orange and gold.
Moody Stormy Sunrise
Relax and smell the crisp sea air.
Gently close your eyes and listen
With evocative lapping waves
The silence is barely broken.
While you are at peace with yourself
You think about a soothing stroll
Along the beach in morning sun
As night into morning unrolls.
The sun begins to light the day.
Disappointment is awoken
As you see the ominous clouds
And dull dark grey of the ocean.
Very soon the storm starts raging
Above the turbulent dark sea.
You find that you are tormented
By deafening sound so noisy.
There’s no space for mental escape.
The mood is sombre and so tense.
Thunder, lightning and crashing waves
Herald the wild raging tempest.
Suddenly the clouds move apart.
Hope is being restored again.
Bright orange spears through the darkness
As the storm begins to abate.
The bright colours of dawn strengthen.
The rising sun shoves clouds away.
The wild sea starts to settle down
And greens and blues emerge from the grey.
Excited emotions are stirred.
A magical sunrise unfolds.
The colours are spectacular
Against remnant inky clouds.
Breathtaking radiant beauty
With glittering sparkles of light
Dancing across the foam capped waves
An uplifting exquisite sight.
The scintillating salty air
And dramatic start to the day
Awakens your dormant senses
With the sun’s colourful bouquet.
Stormy Ocean Sunrise
The night-time darkness is lifting.
Sea and sky merge as one.
The only hint of the horizon
Comes from the rising sun.
Just a sliver of silver light
Picks out the faintest line,
Just a merest separation
Of clouds and sea entwined.
The massive dark clouds overwhelm
The approaching new day.
Even that tiny glimpse of light
Cannot dispel the grey.
A sudden bolt of bright lightning
And loud clap of thunder
Abruptly announces the storm
And ends the night’s slumber.
The swirling clouds and ocean waves
As one they are dancing
To a percussion orchestra
And wailing theremin.
The heavy clouds throw down fierce rain
Onto wild crashing waves.
Furious water interplays
With noise beyond known scales.
A cold blustery day is set.
There will be no reprieve.
The rain and wind will stay for now
For a few days at least.
Stormy Sunrise over the Ocean
Squally winds whistle eerily.
Birds are tossed around in the gale,
Screeching and flapping fearfully
As the furious winds prevail.
The crashing waves and squally wind
Are very deafeningly loud.
The noises are quite disturbing
Against the darkness of the clouds.
The early storm is abating.
The darkness starts to peel away.
The heavy clouds start separating
With the approaching dawn of day.
A golden glow begins to spread.
The sun peeping out playfully
Tingeing ominous dark clouds red
Orange splashed spontaneously.
The colours of the seas start to change
From grey to blue or even green
Banishing any dark that remains
A glorious sight to be seen.
Dancing foam with pearlescent glow
Mountainous waves crash noisily.
Wild sea spray composes a show
Lit with sparkling embroidery.
Gold and silver glints dance wildly
Across the raging sea water.
Are more furious storms likely
Or is the dawn restoring order?
Sunrise at Agnes Water
Early in the pre-dawn morning
I set off to the beach.
A lovely stroll from my unit
A gorgeous sunrise I seek.
With moderate coastal breeze
The air is rather chill.
Even briskly walking the track
Does not get warmth instilled.
At the beach, the waves are larger
Than observed yesterday.
One lone surfer in the distance
Catching the gloomy waves.
Fiery red scorches the cloud bank
On the far horizon.
Orange reflections can be seen
On water dampened sand.
As the sun approaches rising
Strong colour fades away.
With gentle light slowly spreading
The sea becomes soft grey.
The foam’s whiteness is appearing
As the waves crash to shore.
More definition can be seen
In the rolling water.
Suddenly the moment arrives.
Cloud edges turn golden.
The sun is hinting what’s to come.
A gift it is holding.
The brilliant gold intensifies
Pushing through glowing clouds
Lighting a path across the sea
Tossing aside night’s shroud.
Tentatively, the sun peeps out
As if to just make sure
That the new day is safe to start
Or should it just withdraw?
Decision made, the sun proceeds
To get on with the day
With its brilliant crowning glory
And majestic display.
After the Storm over the Sea
Storm clouds are still in evidence.
The sun signals start of day.
Glorious colours light the sky
And soften clouds to grey.
The sea has calmed to rolling waves.
The wind’s gently kissing the ocean.
Silver sparkles dance on the sea
Lacy foam accepts demotion.
With jet skis, surfboards, kites and more
People start to enjoy the day.
The rolling surf is beckoning
For many types of water play.
As you wander along the beach
Look up towards the morning sky
Taking in the wondrous sunrise
A hot air balloon you might spy.
The air is clean and fresh to breathe.
The night’s storm has enriched the day.
The salty air refreshes us
As we glance at the sky’s bouquet.
A Chat with the Sunrise
I had a chat with the sunrise,
Its beauty so fleeting,
An artwork that’s ephemeral,
Quickly disappearing.
You tease us with this dawn display.
Please, sun can you tell me
Why we’re given the merest glimpse
Of your wondrous beauty?
You show your colours twice per day.
These displays are so brief.
Sunrise and evening sunset
Colours defy belief.
Clouds gathered near the horizon
Amplify the glory
And the presence of the ocean
Reflects gold from the sea.
Your brilliance cannot be captured
By photo or painting
Or any other man-made way.
Magic only you can bring.
Sunset while brief is often seen,
Part of our active day,
But sunrise appears so early
Our sleep we have to break.
I’m late to bed and late to rise
Missing morning’s magic.
When I arise the theatre’s closed.
Blue sky’s not dramatic.
So here is my question to you.
Why just tantalise us
With only an opening act
And nothing more ‘til dusk?
Why can’t you, please, choreograph
A longer performance
So that more people may enjoy
Your lustrous adornments?
Agnes Water Beach
On Agnes Water beach today
I watched waves roll and curl
Crashing onto golden beach sand
With effervescent swirl.
The waves were strong but not so high
Crashing with a loud roar
Scooping sand into their thick foam
Smashing it down some more.
Children played and laughed on the beach.
Relaxing parents watched.
Surf too rough for tiny people
Small bodies would be smashed.
A couple arrived with surfboards
To test their skill and luck
With waves looking a bit too small
At first, they came unstuck.
Now and then some bigger waves formed.
Aha success at last.
Both caught some passable waves to shore
Then wait for the next blast.
No wild storm, not even sunrise
Just some nice memories
Of golden days spent at the beach
Body surfing so free.
The heavy clouds are rolling in
To greet us as dawn is breaking.
Golden colours thread through the clouds
Lighting up the day just starting.
The glistening sea is calm for now.
People walk and fish on the shore.
A solo canoeist paddles
While watching the approaching storm.
To enjoy the colours of the dawn
Before the storm and beach align
And all the people head for home
Happily, there’s plenty of time.
Before the fury of the winds
Whip the ocean into frenzy
With churning foamy crashing waves
No longer safe for people to be.
Ripping small yachts from their moorings
Throwing large sea vessels around
Grabbing dinghies from the shoreline
With waves reaching to higher ground.
Until then let us all relax
To watch the dawn colours unfold
Against the contrasting dark waves
Brilliant red, orange and gold.
Moody Stormy Sunrise
Relax and smell the crisp sea air.
Gently close your eyes and listen
With evocative lapping waves
The silence is barely broken.
While you are at peace with yourself
You think about a soothing stroll
Along the beach in morning sun
As night into morning unrolls.
The sun begins to light the day.
Disappointment is awoken
As you see the ominous clouds
And dull dark grey of the ocean.
Very soon the storm starts raging
Above the turbulent dark sea.
You find that you are tormented
By deafening sound so noisy.
There’s no space for mental escape.
The mood is sombre and so tense.
Thunder, lightning and crashing waves
Herald the wild raging tempest.
Suddenly the clouds move apart.
Hope is being restored again.
Bright orange spears through the darkness
As the storm begins to abate.
The bright colours of dawn strengthen.
The rising sun shoves clouds away.
The wild sea starts to settle down
And greens and blues emerge from the grey.
Excited emotions are stirred.
A magical sunrise unfolds.
The colours are spectacular
Against remnant inky clouds.
Breathtaking radiant beauty
With glittering sparkles of light
Dancing across the foam capped waves
An uplifting exquisite sight.
The scintillating salty air
And dramatic start to the day
Awakens your dormant senses
With the sun’s colourful bouquet.
Stormy Ocean Sunrise
The night-time darkness is lifting.
Sea and sky merge as one.
The only hint of the horizon
Comes from the rising sun.
Just a sliver of silver light
Picks out the faintest line,
Just a merest separation
Of clouds and sea entwined.
The massive dark clouds overwhelm
The approaching new day.
Even that tiny glimpse of light
Cannot dispel the grey.
A sudden bolt of bright lightning
And loud clap of thunder
Abruptly announces the storm
And ends the night’s slumber.
The swirling clouds and ocean waves
As one they are dancing
To a percussion orchestra
And wailing theremin.
The heavy clouds throw down fierce rain
Onto wild crashing waves.
Furious water interplays
With noise beyond known scales.
A cold blustery day is set.
There will be no reprieve.
The rain and wind will stay for now
For a few days at least.
Stormy Sunrise over the Ocean
Squally winds whistle eerily.
Birds are tossed around in the gale,
Screeching and flapping fearfully
As the furious winds prevail.
The crashing waves and squally wind
Are very deafeningly loud.
The noises are quite disturbing
Against the darkness of the clouds.
The early storm is abating.
The darkness starts to peel away.
The heavy clouds start separating
With the approaching dawn of day.
A golden glow begins to spread.
The sun peeping out playfully
Tingeing ominous dark clouds red
Orange splashed spontaneously.
The colours of the seas start to change
From grey to blue or even green
Banishing any dark that remains
A glorious sight to be seen.
Dancing foam with pearlescent glow
Mountainous waves crash noisily.
Wild sea spray composes a show
Lit with sparkling embroidery.
Gold and silver glints dance wildly
Across the raging sea water.
Are more furious storms likely
Or is the dawn restoring order?
Sunrise at Agnes Water
Early in the pre-dawn morning
I set off to the beach.
A lovely stroll from my unit
A gorgeous sunrise I seek.
With moderate coastal breeze
The air is rather chill.
Even briskly walking the track
Does not get warmth instilled.
At the beach, the waves are larger
Than observed yesterday.
One lone surfer in the distance
Catching the gloomy waves.
Fiery red scorches the cloud bank
On the far horizon.
Orange reflections can be seen
On water dampened sand.
As the sun approaches rising
Strong colour fades away.
With gentle light slowly spreading
The sea becomes soft grey.
The foam’s whiteness is appearing
As the waves crash to shore.
More definition can be seen
In the rolling water.
Suddenly the moment arrives.
Cloud edges turn golden.
The sun is hinting what’s to come.
A gift it is holding.
The brilliant gold intensifies
Pushing through glowing clouds
Lighting a path across the sea
Tossing aside night’s shroud.
Tentatively, the sun peeps out
As if to just make sure
That the new day is safe to start
Or should it just withdraw?
Decision made, the sun proceeds
To get on with the day
With its brilliant crowning glory
And majestic display.
After the Storm over the Sea
Storm clouds are still in evidence.
The sun signals start of day.
Glorious colours light the sky
And soften clouds to grey.
The sea has calmed to rolling waves.
The wind’s gently kissing the ocean.
Silver sparkles dance on the sea
Lacy foam accepts demotion.
With jet skis, surfboards, kites and more
People start to enjoy the day.
The rolling surf is beckoning
For many types of water play.
As you wander along the beach
Look up towards the morning sky
Taking in the wondrous sunrise
A hot air balloon you might spy.
The air is clean and fresh to breathe.
The night’s storm has enriched the day.
The salty air refreshes us
As we glance at the sky’s bouquet.
A Chat with the Sunrise
I had a chat with the sunrise,
Its beauty so fleeting,
An artwork that’s ephemeral,
Quickly disappearing.
You tease us with this dawn display.
Please, sun can you tell me
Why we’re given the merest glimpse
Of your wondrous beauty?
You show your colours twice per day.
These displays are so brief.
Sunrise and evening sunset
Colours defy belief.
Clouds gathered near the horizon
Amplify the glory
And the presence of the ocean
Reflects gold from the sea.
Your brilliance cannot be captured
By photo or painting
Or any other man-made way.
Magic only you can bring.
Sunset while brief is often seen,
Part of our active day,
But sunrise appears so early
Our sleep we have to break.
I’m late to bed and late to rise
Missing morning’s magic.
When I arise the theatre’s closed.
Blue sky’s not dramatic.
So here is my question to you.
Why just tantalise us
With only an opening act
And nothing more ‘til dusk?
Why can’t you, please, choreograph
A longer performance
So that more people may enjoy
Your lustrous adornments?
Agnes Water Beach
On Agnes Water beach today
I watched waves roll and curl
Crashing onto golden beach sand
With effervescent swirl.
The waves were strong but not so high
Crashing with a loud roar
Scooping sand into their thick foam
Smashing it down some more.
Children played and laughed on the beach.
Relaxing parents watched.
Surf too rough for tiny people
Small bodies would be smashed.
A couple arrived with surfboards
To test their skill and luck
With waves looking a bit too small
At first, they came unstuck.
Now and then some bigger waves formed.
Aha success at last.
Both caught some passable waves to shore
Then wait for the next blast.
No wild storm, not even sunrise
Just some nice memories
Of golden days spent at the beach
Body surfing so free.
Stormy Ocean Sunrises
In my youth I spent many hours at the beach. Over school summer holidays I would stay for a week with my Grandmother who lived at the beach. Dad took our family fishing very regularly on weekends.
While the weather was generally fine and sunny, albeit rather hot, during the summer school holidays there were times when storms came in from the ocean. Summer in Queensland is storm time.
We would often catch the sun rising over the glistening ocean. Sometimes the sky was clear and golden with silver sparkles across the sea. Other times the sky was cloudy with glowing orange announcing the start of day. Then, there were days when the clouds were dark and heavy with fiery reds pushing through. Depending on the weather the sea varied from calm with sedate ripples to wild waves crashing loudly.
Early morning, lying in bed, we could listen to the ocean. Sometimes it was gentle lapping sounds. Other times the waves were furious and sounded like they were crashing through the house, even though the house was a couple of hundred metres from the high tide shoreline.
It was the sounds of storms and high seas that made the biggest impact on me. I have tried to capture the ambience of sound in my paintings as well as the general atmosphere of the storms and surreal colours and contrasts of the sunrise. During the storms birds would screech and struggle against the winds to find safe haven.
Before a storm arrived, there would sometimes be a quiet stillness, an eeriness, that could be more disturbing than the actual storm.
In this series of artwork, I have used various mediums and styles to capture my experiences, my feelings and general attachment to the many moods of stormy ocean sunrises. There were numerous nuances to explore from dramatic, tempestuous storms to gentle, atmospheric disturbances. There was the calm before the storm and the freshness after the storm. Wild crashing waves with wind-blown surf contrast with peaceful ripples in a flattened sea. The colours of the water and the sky gave much variety with which to work.
While most of the artworks have a realistic approach, this approach is tempered with impressionism, expressionism, and a degree of abstraction to create more drama, more intensity, and more moodiness to stimulate memories and emotions in the viewer.
Some of the artworks include people undertaking activities at the beach, some include birds, baby turtles, bluebottles, and soldier crabs while others showcase boats affected by stormy conditions. Stormy ocean sunrises do not occur in isolation. Depending on the circumstances, sea creatures, land creatures, birds, people, and other things are impacted by the weather.
To accompany the artwork, I have written a series of poems that express my observations, feelings, and thoughts about stormy ocean sunrises. These poems, while written in ballad rhyme and rhythm, have flowed freely from my mind. The language is ordinary and conversational.
Anne Huth
In my youth I spent many hours at the beach. Over school summer holidays I would stay for a week with my Grandmother who lived at the beach. Dad took our family fishing very regularly on weekends.
While the weather was generally fine and sunny, albeit rather hot, during the summer school holidays there were times when storms came in from the ocean. Summer in Queensland is storm time.
We would often catch the sun rising over the glistening ocean. Sometimes the sky was clear and golden with silver sparkles across the sea. Other times the sky was cloudy with glowing orange announcing the start of day. Then, there were days when the clouds were dark and heavy with fiery reds pushing through. Depending on the weather the sea varied from calm with sedate ripples to wild waves crashing loudly.
Early morning, lying in bed, we could listen to the ocean. Sometimes it was gentle lapping sounds. Other times the waves were furious and sounded like they were crashing through the house, even though the house was a couple of hundred metres from the high tide shoreline.
It was the sounds of storms and high seas that made the biggest impact on me. I have tried to capture the ambience of sound in my paintings as well as the general atmosphere of the storms and surreal colours and contrasts of the sunrise. During the storms birds would screech and struggle against the winds to find safe haven.
Before a storm arrived, there would sometimes be a quiet stillness, an eeriness, that could be more disturbing than the actual storm.
In this series of artwork, I have used various mediums and styles to capture my experiences, my feelings and general attachment to the many moods of stormy ocean sunrises. There were numerous nuances to explore from dramatic, tempestuous storms to gentle, atmospheric disturbances. There was the calm before the storm and the freshness after the storm. Wild crashing waves with wind-blown surf contrast with peaceful ripples in a flattened sea. The colours of the water and the sky gave much variety with which to work.
While most of the artworks have a realistic approach, this approach is tempered with impressionism, expressionism, and a degree of abstraction to create more drama, more intensity, and more moodiness to stimulate memories and emotions in the viewer.
Some of the artworks include people undertaking activities at the beach, some include birds, baby turtles, bluebottles, and soldier crabs while others showcase boats affected by stormy conditions. Stormy ocean sunrises do not occur in isolation. Depending on the circumstances, sea creatures, land creatures, birds, people, and other things are impacted by the weather.
To accompany the artwork, I have written a series of poems that express my observations, feelings, and thoughts about stormy ocean sunrises. These poems, while written in ballad rhyme and rhythm, have flowed freely from my mind. The language is ordinary and conversational.
Anne Huth
'Abandoned Art' miniatures - free artworks abandoned at cafes and breweries as marketing for the exhibition.