Inspired by the Ocean!

This has been a full summer of travel.  I've been to the Pacific Ocean in June and the Atlantic Ocean in August.  The ocean is always a place of beauty and inspiration.  I'm always mesmerized by the waves, the sun, the birds, the changing sky and atmosphere.

The photographer in me tried to capture many of the beautiful changing scenes my eyes saw.  I took well over 400 photos of the oceans alone, (not to mention the ones of family and sites we saw!)

When I came home I wanted to try to capture the essence of the dynamic beauty I'd seen. It seemed the medium to use was pastels.  Pastels are something I've only dabbled in - but enjoy each time I do.  Here are a few paintings inspired by Little Sur, near Cambria, California.  Next, I'd like to paint the Atlantic.

This is not the ocean - it is a sunset in the wake of the boat on Bond Lake, Illinois