During wartime, while stationed with five other radar technicians in a remote communications station on Spider Island, Ewart's off-duty hours were often spent observing the sea. With black and white film, sketch pad and pencil, he attempted to record and describe in photos, drawings and words, what he would later paint in oils.

What follow are notes taken directly from Ewart's own observations, jotted in his notebook along with his field sketches.

'Distant sea at sunset. Reflection of light directly overhead forms the main colour area. At the horizon this is darker than the sky. Accents in wave form pattern -- dark blue-green, almost black.'

'The glinting of sun -- golden, metallic almost, on crests or ridges of the waves.'

'Surf. green - gold (pale) surging into violet (pale) spray. The green gold is extremely dark. Foam pattern darker than light portions of the water on which it lies. Foam mauve (grey) colour - with yellow highlights.'

'After the sun had set, the following observations: All glitter gone, Sea distant pale grey, Accents blue green grey, but much less contrast, Spray - cold bluish violet green water, cold pale green, Clouds pale grey - with light at top.'

Spray at evening. Very strong light accents on sun side of column. Darker falling edge with light filtering through in pattern as indicated.

Indications in spray shadow of greenish colour.