Between Tides
a quiet marker of progress
February, 3rd 2026
This painting is based on a scene looking west from Te Kaha, on the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island. It’s a coastline shaped by the Pacific Ocean, and more often than not it has a sense of movement and energy to it. Days like this are less common. When the sea settles to this extent, the coast takes on a completely different character - unusually calm, open, and transparent. The perfect day for exploring Rockpools!
What drew me to this subject was the transparency of the water. I’ve painted many coastal scenes over the years, often focusing on movement, weather, and the energy of the sea. This was something very different. The rock pools were beautifully still, and in places the water almost disappeared, revealing the shapes, colours, and textures beneath the surface.
This painting was always going to be a familiar subject - the sea, but painted in a way I had never done before. Like most people who grew up near the sea, I have strong memories of exploring rock pools as a kid - crouching down, turning over stones, watching small fish and crabs scatter. There’s something timeless about that experience, and I wanted this painting to reflect that sense of quiet curiosity and calm.
From a technical point of view, this was more challenging than I expected. I’ve painted turbulent water many times, and I’ve painted transparent water in rivers and lakes, but the ocean is a different thing altogether. The colours behave differently, the rocks have a heavier presence, and the balance between surface reflection and what lies beneath is much harder to judge.
This painting took longer than almost anything I’ve done previously, and it’s probably more detailed than most of my earlier work. The challenge was knowing when to stop - resisting the urge to over-describe every rock or ripple, while still keeping enough structure to make the water feel believable. Ten years ago, I simply wouldn’t have had the skills or confidence to attempt something like this.
In that sense, this painting feels like a quiet marker of progress. Not just in technique, but in patience - in being willing to sit with a subject, push it further, and let it take the time it needs. I’m very happy with the result. It’s exactly what I set out to create, which doesn’t always happen.
The painting is now finished and available, and for me it represents a different way of looking at the coast - not for its drama, but for its stillness.
If you are interested in purchasing or commissioning an oil painting contact Wayne.
