This was a redemption effort. I had an old self portrait from years ago that was just plain awful. I don't like to waste canvas so I kept it thinking I would reuse it someday. After years of ignoring it I finally was tired of seeing the old wretched attempt, and decided to paint over it with a new self portrait.
For the last fifteen years in October, nine college friends meet together on a beach in Florida. We wait for this weekend all year long. Raising children, the teenage and college years, celebrating weddings and then babies, suffering losses...we have shared it all. This scene captures how we feel not only when we hit the beach for the first time, but that feeling of celebration when we all step off the plane.
That brilliant September sunset was over and the sun was almost gone. The cars were heading back over the bridge. All that was left was the violet glow. I was attracted by the lavender hues of the sky, water and pavement.
