After spending a long time without any outdoor painting trips, our plein air group was feeling a bit bored. We wanted to go somewhere soon but didn’t have any plans.
Then, yesterday, out of the blue, Master Sanjeewee called me. He suggested visiting my home in Madampe, Chilaw, Sri Lanka, to explore the area for new painting subjects.
Gathering the Team
We quickly invited Buddhi, a young artist in our group, and my hometown friend Dananjaya to join us. Both of them agreed happily.
On the day of our trip, Buddhi and Sanjeewee arrived at my home early in the morning. After enjoying breakfast together, we set out to find some interesting places to paint.
The First Stop: Thinipiti Wewa
Our first stop was a nearby small river called Thinipiti Wewa. But we found it covered with grass and not offering much scenery.
Sanjeewee suggested we head to a nearby village to check out local fishing huts and the beach surroundings.
Journey to the Fishing Village
The path to the beach from my home is about 5 kilometers. It takes us through long paddy fields and over a big bridge crossing a river called Karambalan Oya.
As we traveled, we took some nice photographs for our paintings. The river was filled with brown water due to heavy rains in the past few weeks.
We saw unique boats called “theppans” used by local fishermen. These boats are different from what we usually see around the island.
Finding Inspiration
I also took some photos of trees to practice my drawing and painting skills. They looked a bit complicated, but I enjoyed the challenge.
Exploring Thoduwawa Village
After a while, we arrived at the fishing village called Thoduwawa. Even though I grew up near this village, I hadn’t visited it much before.
We wandered through the small streets, looking for good spots to paint. Luckily, Master Sanjeewee is great at finding hidden gems like places that make wonderful watercolor paintings.
Interacting with the Locals
We chatted with some local women and men about good locations to paint. We had to explain who we were and why we came because, with our big cameras and painting gear, they were a bit suspicious. I think many plein air painters around the world have similar experiences. It’s one of the challenges of painting outdoors.
Dananjaya Joins the Adventure
While we were exploring, my friend Dananjaya joined us. He told us a lot about the village and traditional fishing methods, especially how they catch shrimp using theppans.
Setting Up to Paint
We found a shady place and started working on some sketches. I chose a view of the beach with a few theppans, and Sanjeewee picked a subject featuring fishing huts made of coconut leaves.
My work was small and quick, I just wanted to capture the impression. Buddhi did a pen and ink drawing. My friend took photos and chatted with us. It was nice.
An Unexpected Visitor
Everything was going well until a drunken man approached us. He came over to where we were painting and started talking to himself. It was a bit messy and troublesome.
As plein air painters, we have to deal with these kinds of hurdles. One trick is to keep working without giving him much attention. If he doesn’t get the attention he wants, he might leave.
In our case, he didn’t leave. He kept mumbling and blaming others. So we decided to pack up and leave slowly. Our work was finished anyway, so we didn’t lose anything.
Lunch and New Friends
After our trip to the beach, we went back home and had lunch. While we were eating, my university friends and seniors, Dr. Upanith and Prabhath, arrived. They wanted to join our spontaneous trip too. Now our team had six members.
Visiting the Shrimp Farm
After lunch, Dananjaya took us to his father’s shrimp farm. None of us had seen a shrimp farm before, so it was a new experience. It was located in the Arachchikattuwa area.
He and his father showed us the shrimps and explained how they are grown and sold. The location and landscape were very unique, so we took some photos for future reference.
A Traditional Boat Ride
Then Dananjaya told us that their land was near the lagoon and that we could go for a boat ride. It was a very traditional boat, and we were excited to try it.
We were a bit too many for the boat, and it couldn’t hold much weight. But Dananjaya and his father were confident, and we were eager to go.
We set out on the lagoon, which is surrounded by mangrove trees called Kadolana. These trees are highly protected in Sri Lanka and are very important for the beach and lagoon ecosystems.
Capturing the Sunset
We stayed until sunset. The place was so beautiful. We could see the beach and the sea in the distance. The sun was setting, and the colors in the sky changed every minute.
We took lots of reference photos for our watercolor works. As artists, we knew these were the hidden and most beautiful subjects that many plein air painters search for. We had a great time.
Returning Home
After the sunset, we slowly returned to Dananjaya’s home. On the way back, a few fish jumped into the boat, and there was a small leak above us.
But there was nothing to worry about, that’s how it is with these boats. It was exciting and a bit challenging.
Making Future Plans
At the end of the day, we all agreed to come back with some BBQ items and to stay at the beach longer to work on some bigger paintings.
PS: Some photos credits should goes to their owners, sanjeewee, upanith, buddhi, dananjaya and prabhath.
