Why I Painted It
I grew up in north Vancouver and we spent our summers at Long Beach, Vancouver Island, BC Canada. It was some of the happiest times of my life. The wildness of the place and the unpredictability of the ocean fascinated me.
We moved to Toronto when I was 13 and when I graduated from post secondary education I did a lot of travelling with my work. It was hectic and stressful. I made a vow to myself that someday I would return and live forever on Vancouver Island. I finally made my wish come true and almost 30 years later returned.
What I Love About This Painting
This painting represents the dream I had of returning to this island. Painted from memories. It is not a real place -- but it is an interpretation of a real place. The ocean is calm. The beach invites you to walk it and dares you to overcome the obstacle of the threatening sky. I like the dream-like quality and the sense of longing I seem to have captured.
Tips and Tricks
- Lots of standing and movement of the entire body to capture motion while working. Most of my skies and water now have that movement in them.
