Original Cornish seascapes by Larry Johns Original Cornish seascapes by Larry Johns Original Cornish seascapes by Larry Johns
This is a very popular the theme, but only on 12"x16" canvasses. Odd, that. But to accommodate this strange phenomenon I have been known to paint "Rocks-on-the-left" and "Rocks-0n-the-right" sets of similar scenes, and they have always sold as a pair! Maybe they look okay on either side of something or other.
Click the pictures and, for what it's worth, they get bigger		 Similar can be said of this view; except for the canvas size. This one needs to be 16"x20"! It's all very confusing, but who am I to question the wishes of others? I do hear the purists saying: "Good grief, man...how can you do that to art?!"  Well, I like painting waves, and what's more important, I like people to actually see my work! Starving in some foreign garret is not for me...I've been there! These scenes, however, are of actual places; even where you can only see the wave and the rock. I don't make them up...well, not all of them! The above is "St.Agnes Head" on the north coast of Cornwall.  I paint this area almost exclusively, because, I think, I was born here. Actually, 4 miles west of St.Agnes, in a place called Porthtowan. I'm not sure why I don't paint Porthtowan more often, but I don't.
Original Cornish seascapes by Larry Johns Original Cornish seascapes by Larry Johns Original Cornish seascapes by Larry Johns
Of course, I no longer live in Porthtowan. That's an even more compelling reason why I don't go there often. Also, the place has changed out of all recognition. And not for the better!  The scene above looks west from Trevaunance Cove. This is a type of wave I like to paint, on the off chance that, one day, I'll get it right. This particular version can be found on certain makes of greetings cards. I call this "After a big one"...a big wave, I mean. The rock is locally known as "The Devil's Tooth". I don't paint here, I take photographs. The rock upon which I stand is always wet from the breakers, ergo, you don't stand there very long! It's a different story at low water, of course, but the object is somewhat defeated at those times
Original Cornish seascapes by Larry Johns Original Cornish seascapes by Larry Johns Original Cornish seascapes by Larry Johns
This one looks east out of Perranporth, but I have taken liberties with the position of the sun. Slightly east of the previous picture; closer to Holywell Bay. There is a strange tale attached to this one. Look closely and you should see a higher cliff in the far distance.  I painted the final version of this when I was strapped for cash, unable to afford a fresh canvas. So I painted the middle distance out of a reject - I thought! - and slapped on another scene.  The effect is actually quite pleasing. A happy accident, I think it's called
Original Cornish seascapes by Larry Johns Original Cornish seascapes by Larry Johns  
The Devil's Tooth again, but viewed from the other side. A couple of days after an mid-Atlantic storm, when the surges have had time to reach us, the views from here are magnificent.

A distance view of "The Devil's Tooth", from "Sally Bottoms" cove.  The word "bottoms" is a tin mining term, having nothing whatever to do with whatever it is you sit on...Naturally enough, however, when I was a lad it was generally known as Sally's bottom...Highly juvenile, eh?