Sunny Day at Sand Lake, OR

In July, I was camping at Cape Lookout State Park with some friends. The first evening we were there, the sky lit up with vibrant colors that hung on the horizon late into the night. 
However, the following morning we woke up to a thick, chilly fog lying over  Netarts Bay. It was drizzling, and the temperature at our campsite was 40 degrees. I have come to expect this kind of weather pattern living in the Northwest, or Northwet, as some affectionately refer to this part of the country. Even though many of my seascapes document a sky full of color and sunshine, this has not been my actual experience with Oregon coastal skies. In fact, most of my experiences of the Oregon Coast demand a down jacket covered by a rain jacket, surrounded by fog.Here we know what it is like to live in a world of grays. The low-lying clouds that create a barrier between us and the sun can seem ever-present. Yet I have faith that behind the clouds, the sun is still shining. Just as the Magi waited and searched for the Christ Child, I also wait and search for the light. I choose to paint the moments when the light has broken through the darkness because I want my art to embody hope. My paintings remind the viewer that even on the darkest day, when all we see and feel is gray, the sun is still there, illuminating the darkness. On that particularly foggy July day, we chose to chase the sun. We loaded up and headed 10 miles south to Sand Lake. As we drove out of the forest and down toward the lake, the clouds parted and the sun shone through. We found clear skies, warm sand, and after laying out our towels, we shed our puffy jackets, lathered on sunscreen, and for a few hours, soaked up the gift of sunshine.