This oil painting is about walking on the beach in St Augustine right after my father died a few years back. A storm had just past over and I was taken by the strong golden light coming through the clouds and the light reflected on the water. I wanted the painting to be simple and somewhat abstract in design. I compressed the values of the image to make the light more important. This area of beach was where my father rented a condo and we would spend time together there. 
11×14 oil painting on canvas panel.
Shore Birds
sun breaks through the clouds
wind blown sand lashes my face
surf rises and pounds
as the storm races off shore
But gulls remain steadfast, calm
I walked on the same stretch of beach everyday for weeks recalling memories of my father. I imagined him sitting on the porch looking out over the ocean, steaming cup of coffee and his crossword puzzles: always a crossword puzzle, done in ink with no mistakes. What I would give to be able to ask about how to start a stubborn mower after a long winter, or to tell him that things were good with me and that his baseball team was in first place. I take things for granted and harp over mistakes made when everyone was just learning the rules of life. Now they’re just ghosts. Hovering on a porch.
footprints in the sand
vanish with the incoming
tide, and walking leaves
no record, we make
marks then they’re gone
Lovely painting and poem!
Debbie, thanks for taking the time to look at my website and to write a response. Steve
I just healed of a long illness, and I return reading your wonderful posts admiring your beautiful watercolors and reading your poems. My respects.