Boardwalk

As a kid I never really understood the game of Monopoly. I could play it, but I didn't necessarily enjoy it. I do, however, remember that everyone wanted to buy "Boardwalk". It somehow meant you could better win the game. It was years before I knew where the famous Boardwalk was, and only in recent years that I understood how it applied to coastal living. 

This isn't even really a boardwalk, but rather a pier. However, it sent my mind back to those days, long ago, when we would pull out the game board, divvy up the money, and see who could out-buy everyone else. Just a little walk down memory (Boardwalk) lane.

Water, Water Everywhere

Water is always a challenge, and yet so much fun to paint. It's all about the reflections. Where is the light source? What is the point of view? What can you actually see from there? So many things come into play. But it all begins with a base, a background, a foundation. We must always build on a strong foundation. 

The Waters Appear

The scriptures say the Lord created all things. I'm getting just a small taste of that as I create dry land, and now water. I can't imagine what it would be like to create the real thing. It's fun to simply try to recreate it in 2D form. But to some extent creating is creating is creating. And no matter how we each do it, in our own individual ways, there is something about standing back, looking at it, and seeing that "it is good". 

Beach Boy

Well, here he is... my little beach boy. He makes my toes curl with excitement. I want to get down to the beach and help him collect rocks and stomp in puddles with him. Capturing him on film was such a joy. He ran from puddle to puddle to puddle. I was afraid that by the time I got to him, asked his dad for permission to take his picture, and got settled in, he would have run out of energy or interest. I was so wrong. His dad said he'd been running across the puddles for over half and hour and I was there with him for nearly as long. It was a rare moment, such as this one, when he would stop and find a treasure, and then be off running again. 

I often wonder why all of that energy is allowed in those tiny bodies when my body can't seem to get enough energy to keep up with my own schedule. Watching the carefree child always stirs something deep inside that causes me to yearn for that same freedom to run and laugh and explore at will. Some days I let myself be that child. We should all do that a little more often... 

Tide Puddles

When I think of tide pools I think of the ponds left by the ebbing tide that are filled with star fish and sea anemones. When they're only filled with plankton, are they still tide pools? Or just tide tide puddles?

Trying to paint the texture of the wind-blown sand was an interesting process. On a larger canvas I might have become obsessive. On these 8x10 canvases, however, I am forced to keep things loose and keep moving. It is a good exercise for me.

It was also fun to note how the water rippled in some places and was completely calm in others, even though it was the same tide puddle. The earth is such an amazing thing.

Summer Fun

Treading Water

I've never been able to tread water. Even though I learned to swim as a child, I was never a very good swimmer. Several years ago I decided to overcome my fear of the water and worked hard to do it. I went to the pool and practiced - not swimming - but not being afraid of the water. After a few months I was swimming like a fish in the deep end and loving every minute of it. And now, even though I can't get enough of the water, I've still not been able to tread water.

A few months ago I started taking a water aerobics class. One lady does the exercises without a float belt. After class the other day I decided to try doing the exercises without a belt. It was hard, but I found myself quite able to do it. Suddenly I realized I was basically treading water. I quit focusing on the exercises and started focusing on simply staying afloat. I soon realized that all the other times I'd tried to tread water I had failed because I had done the "panic stroke".  As soon as I realized I could do it, and believed in myself, my motions settled into a rhythm. My heart rate evened out and I was able to treat water for 15 minutes. I could have kept going but I needed to get on with my day.

Typically when people talk about treading water they are using the phrase in a negative connotation to indicate that someone isn't moving forward in their life. On this day, however, treading water meant I wasn't drowning and it became a true life saving skill. I think often we are hard on ourselves when all we are doing is treading water. I think it's good to give ourselves credit for staying afloat and not drowning until we can get the resources we need to move in a healthy way.

Testing the Waters

I ended up with a few extra hours on my hands so I went to Netarts Bay to check out an area where I'd never been. It was low tide and there were several people clamming and playing in the water. There was a family with boys who were having fun testing the water... in and out... in and out. It was fun to observe their interactions and the pure and simple joy that comes from playing in the water.