Mystical Ocean - 2/6/26

There’s just something that draws us to the ocean. Watching and hearing the waves roll in and break, seeing the various colors that present depending on the weather, and smelling those ocean breezes…it reminds us of the power and mysticism that is the ocean. An opportunity to meet my son in Hawaii for a few days was my first time visiting those islands, so I was excited to see the famous scenery in person.

It seemed so surreal to be on a tropical island with warm breezes and my toes in the sand at a time when it was cool and cloudy at home.

Oahu was such an interesting combination of modern tourism while trying to preserve the island heritage and customs.

I had never seen trees with roots like this. They were massive and seemed like they were out of a fairy tale.

I loved seeing these two birds cuddling together. It was nice to see some wildlife, since there are hardly any animals around.

Seeing a sunset over the ocean never disappoints! A camera can’t compare to seeing it in person. The mix of pinks, oranges, and purples made me want to paint!

All of the tropical flowers were gorgeous! I took a lot of pictures of them, trying to capture the vibrant colors so I could paint them eventually.

Apparently some hearty and ambitious souls climb up the stairway on the side of this volcano. I wouldn’t have made it! I was happy getting some good photos to capture the colors and textures of the rocky landscape and gnarled branches.

Standing on these rocky shores afforded a stunning view of the changing colors of the water! I loved the difference between the textures of the rocks and cliffs and the water.

Another great vista with changes in textures and colors! The varying hues and shades of green is an artists’ paradise. I looked forward to trying to capture some of these colors in my paintings.

The rich history and influences from the East are so interesting to learn about. I wanted to paint the mountains, of course!

I could have sat here for hours! The afternoon light was sublime and as the position of the sun changed, so did the colors. I found the scene peaceful yet the power of the ocean was ever-present in the crashing of the waves.

Listening to the waves break on the shore and the distant rocks was mesmerizing! Sometimes a loud roar; sometimes a gentle lapping; always mystical.

I loved the gentle shape of the tropical flowers! I hope to capture these in a painting.

Saying goodbye. Appreciating another hue of blue!

I enjoyed painting this abstract impressionist painting of a storm brewing off the coast. I used rough brushes and palette knives to create marks to give the impression of rough waves. It was fun to use several hues and tones of blues and greens to capture the changing colors of the ocean as a storm comes up.