When I was growing up in the Philippines, the highlight of summer vacation was our annual trip to the beach. Our Lolo (Tagalog for grandfather) would load us all into his car, packed like sardines (this was way before seatbelt law), the smaller kids sitting on the bigger kids' laps.
After about three to four hours traveling, where the view alternates between ricefields and towns, suddenly the sparkling blue waters of the Philippine sea seem to be all we could see!
We'd swim and play on the beach until it's sunset and time to go home, our skins red and sunburned (we didn't have sunblock lotion then). On the way home, the driver was probably the only one awake. All the kids, me included, sleeping blissfully, happily tired.
Now that I'm an artist, the beach is my favorite subject to paint. The water and sand, the lifeguard towers, umbrellas, seagulls, buckets and beach balls, they all hold a certain fascination for me.
Maybe it's because of the memories they evoke from childhood. Maybe it's awe of the power and beauty of the ocean. Or the peace and tranquility that comes with watching the sunset. I aspired to capture these in the paintings that make up my Beach Life Collection.
There's a total of twenty paintings making up the collection and each one of them has a story and a scripture. My prayer is that you find a painting that speaks to you and reminds you of your own beach memories.
"The Lord bless you and keep you; make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-26