I’m excited to start sharing here regularly again!
Rather than just show you all of my artwork, I also want you to get a better idea of what goes into it. Basically, I want to clue you in on what I’m experiencing in the world or in my head.
In this case, we’re going out into the world. Specifically, we’ll be visiting the Outer Banks in North Carolina.
Now, if you’re looking for history or a lot of travel ideas, you’re probably in the wrong place. When my family met my dear friend Jennifer and her family there last summer, our primary goal was to enjoy the beautiful beaches, reconnect, and relax. So, that’s exactly what we did!
After being closed off from most people and not being able to travel, the colors, the sunsets, the solo morning walks collecting shells, and the relaxing sound, scent, and healing powers of the ocean revived my creative spirit.
I haven’t been using my sketchbook quite as often as I used to, but I did bring it out to the beach while I was there so I could sketch some compositions. I don’t draw specifically from my surroundings. Usually, I just open up my sketchbook and begin drawing shapes or lines. How I’m feeling in a particular place or bits and pieces of patterns that I notice tend to find their way into my paintings and sketches, sometimes even without me consciously realizing it.
We primarily stayed in Kill Devil Hills while we were there, but we took a few excursions. One afternoon we visited the Bodie Island Lighthouse and marsh area. I loved looking at the landscape and it could become composition inspiration in the future.
Another beautiful spot we visited was Jockey’s Ridge State Park. We made it there for the sunset views of the sand dunes and it was stunning.
Abstract Seascape Paintings
When I got back to my studio I was eager to start working with my newfound beach inspiration. I painted three paintings inspired by the emotions, colors, sounds, and textures of our trip to the Outer Banks.
To Bring Peace and Rebirth have already found their forever homes. Pause is available for purchase. The colors and textures that I experienced on this trip will be inspiring my work for years to come.
And last, but definitely not least, this is a beach house that I’ve never even been inside of. I took this photo because it perfectly represents one of my dreams for my life. Not to own a beach house – though I’m definitely not turning one away if it comes to me! – but to spend a lot of time in one.
These types of houses – the shingled weathered wood surrounded by sand and sea oats – have always been the picture inside my mind when I envision myself spending summers at the beach. I’ve literally written about this longing in my journals for years. We started with a week in August 2021 and I just know that there’s more beach time in our future.
When I first started picturing and writing about “my” beach houses many years ago, the dream felt like just that…a dream. Just like the dream of being a painter. And the dream of meeting and sharing my life with someone who was truly right for me.
I feel really grateful. So many of my dreams have come true. Others are in process. And I know that I’ll have new dreams. I write this today as encouragement…for those who are feeling like “there’s no way.” I want you to know that your life can totally change and that it is possible to create a life that, for now, is just a dream.
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