Do you know that feeling when you go to the beach? The minute you see the blue horizon, hear the waves, feel the sand, something inside you shifts. You start to feel calmer, more alive, and more connected to the present.

For me, the beach and ocean are full of magic. There’s something extraordinary about the combination of salt water, sand, sun, and the marine life that exists along the coast. It’s a place I’ve been drawn to since I was young, and that lifelong connection is something I want to explore through my art.

My goal is to capture the feeling of being at the beach – the magic of the ocean – rather that a perfect visual representation.

I don’t want to paint the perfect wave. I want to express what it feels like to see one.  The sparkle of sunlight on the water. The sound of shells tinkling together as a wave rolls in.  The colours of a beautiful seascape.

Every visit to the beach is different, but the feeling it gives me is always the same – calmness, wonder, and the pure joy of seeing the ocean (although in all honesty it is not always calm especially if I’m visiting the beach with a cranky child and a crazy dog – everyone always leaves happy though, that’s the magic of the beach).

So how do you capture something like that in art?

Right now, this is my stage of experimentation and observation – making work, testing ideas, and being curious.

I am working with colours that feel light, positive, and energising. I’ve started a paint swatch sketchbook (inspired by Helen Wells) to explore how different colours interact with one another.

I’ve also been building my technical skills through learning – including an online class with Scott Christensen focused on painting an ocean wave– not so I can paint the perfect wave but to better understand layering paint, creating movement, and capturing light on the water.  

My favourite part of this process is playing with texture and movement. I’ve been experimenting with mixed media such as embroidery, beading, and collage to find ways to bring a sense of life and interest into my work.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll continue playing with materials and techniques, to follow the little sparks of what feels right and see where they lead.

This is slow art – giving ideas time and space to develop into something that truly feels like me.

Ultimately I want my art to offer the same feeling as the ocean does. Art that is calming, joyful, and magical. A small reminder of the beach – something to turn to when you need a little saltwater sparkle in your life.

I’d love to know – how does the beach and ocean make you feel?