Wrightsville Beach Lifeguard Stands

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Sep 24

Earlier this year, during the Wrightsville Beach Invitational Paint Out, I created a painting of the lifeguard stand at Beach Access No. 2. Believe it or not, that was my first time taking my portable easel onto the beach! I loved the experience so much that I thought, gosh I’d love to paint all of the lifeguard stands en plein air. So to end the summer, that’s exactly what I did!

There are 14 lifeguard stands on Wrightsville Beach, starting at Beach Access No. 2 at Shell Island Resort and going all the way to No. 40 at the south end.

It took me three weeks to paint them all with painting sizes ranging from 5x7 and 6x6, to 8x10 and 11x14 in.

I ventured out with a cup of coffee and all of my painting gear in the mornings — the quiet weekday mornings were my favorite — painting for a couple of hours in each location.

I bounced around the island, slowly crossing off each lifeguard stand from my list.

I enjoyed a few midday painting sessions — two days in the shade at Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier and Crystal Pier, and a beach day with a few artists pals!

And of course I had to add in a couple of sunset excursions! These were the most difficult because I was in a race to finish while I still had light. Challenging, but so worth it!

Along the way, I met vacationers and locals (as well as the occasional seagull) who stopped by to see what I was up to! I even stumbled across the last sea turtle nest and the volunteers waiting to meet them and help them on their journey to the sea.

I learned to love the sand in my paint, adding its lovely gritty texture and a little bit of Wrightsville Beach into each piece! It’s funny that sand — the very thing that held me back from painting on the beach in the first place — became one of my favorite parts of the process!

Most of all, I loved spending my days by the sea and exploring the entire length of this lovely island that I’m so lucky to have just 3 miles from home!