"CHASING WAVES CHASING GULLS" by Paul Cheng, OPA

I wanted to capture the innocence and unrestrained joy of childhood. In the sunlight, with waves lapping at their ankles and seagulls scattering into the sky, the children’s laughter drifts in the sea breeze. I used splash-like brushstrokes to mimic the motion of the water, and played with highlights and shadows to bring texture and vitality to the figures, so the viewer can almost feel the salty wind and the rhythm of joy. I combined wet-on-wet techniques with quick, energetic strokes to give the splashing waves and flying birds a sense of immediacy. In color, I used cool-warm contrasts to enhance the brightness of sunlight against the sea, while adding subtle warm reflections to the skin, creating a lively and realistic light effect.