A Circle of Floating Shells and Childlike Wonder – West Coast Stories

Since relocating to the west coast in September 2025, I’ve been immersed in a new series of west coast paintings, stories inspired by shoreline wandering, quiet discovery, and the simple adventure of exploring beaches. In these works, large shells float over coastal landscapes and stacks of stones take on a monumental presence, everyday objects becoming the central characters in their own visual stories.

In this newest painting, a child stands with their back to the viewer, gazing up at an arc of floating shells and stones that seem to defy gravity. Dressed in a bright red knit toque and a golden yellow jacket, the figure offers a warm, grounding focal point against the cool blues of the sky and distant water. Above them, shells rendered in soft pinks, sandy neutrals, and deep earthy tones rise and swirl like a circular constellation of gathered treasures, echoing the wonder of childhood beachcombing. Wisps of white cloud stretch across the horizon, enhancing the dreamlike quality that threads through the scene.

The composition feels musical, a moment suspended in time. There is an exuberance here, a spark of childlike imagination that lifts the piece beyond realism. It’s almost as if the circle of shells hovering above the child has been lifted directly from their thoughts, made visible for us to witness.

With this eighth painting in the series, the west coast becomes newly rooted within an oeuvre that spans Canada coast to coast to coast. These works continue my ongoing exploration of place, memory, and the magic hidden in the everyday stories gathered like shells along the shoreline.