Treasures on the Shore-For Stephie - This painting had so many drafts before I found the right one! A gift for my best friend in CA, this is a portrait of sorts, of Stephanie and of our friendship. Her gifts to me are innumerable, and this was one gift I could give back to her.

If you’ve ever been to Huntington Beach, you know the orange skyline that appears at night. I don’t know why, but LA glows orange at night…or it always has seemed so to me. The figure is Steph, in a flower dress, delicate but wearing a loose chain of strength, dreamy and yet solid. A chess game is set up, with a sun and cloud balloon tied to the chairs. Stephanie brings sunshine into all lives, and can blow away the clouds. The tri-pieces, multi-colored, I like to think of as magic….maybe fairy kisses or love radiating? I believe in magic, the way I believe in legends and some mythology, for the sake of the imagination and for the child within. Steph has one of the most fun inner children I’ve ever had the pleasure to spend time with. I think she believes in the magic too. The treasure on the shore is a paintbrush, something Steph encouraged in me and gets excited with me over to this day.