Original Oil on Canvas. 30" x 40" x 1.5"
Inspired by a much needed cool dip in the water after a long day hiking the lava shoreline on the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. By the time we reached the black sand beach, the sun was setting low in the sky. There’s something ominous and magical about black sand. Perhaps its because it is such a striking color and totally different from the sand on most of the world's beaches. Or perhaps it's the fiery mana of Pele, intense energy manifested in the lava that created this sand.
I jumped in the water for a swim and looked back to the shoreline. On the water's surface there were spectacular reflections of earthy colored palm trees and blue sky, that all danced and merged with the inky darkness of the black sand just below. As the sun dipped even lower, the orange light reflected off a solitary object on the beach and cast dazzling patterns onto the water, creating an intense fusion of color and contrast. The visual scene was so vibrant and heightened - I felt like I was in an animated dream, a body buzz of energy came over me, my whole world was alive. Maybe it was Pele, maybe it was being spent after a long day's hike, or maybe it was everything in that moment all syncing up together to be awakened to the beauty that is around us all the time.
Gallery Wrapped (image is painted around the sides). Varnish applied to protect the painting against the elements. Ready to hang.