Portrait of a Family in Summer

This is one of my favorites. I'm happy with the way I captured the warm temperature and light of a late summer afternoon. The composition works, too. The children are engaged in their activities -  all together, yet, still doing their own thing. So typical of this age.

If you compare the photo I worked from with the one of the finished painting, you can see that I made some big changes here. I eliminated the dune from the background and substituted more water. I think it was a good decision. I also painted the little guy in the wet suit from another photo I had taken that day. His mom thought he looked a little left out in this one. I think she was right. Yup, mother knows best!