"Water Series" (2011)

I did this series in Andrew Martin's intro to painting (water base) class. These are done with watercolors. They are all self-portraits from images of me at the ocean (left to right: beach in California, snorkeling in Hawaii, ocean in Italy, snorkeling in Cayman Islands, and beach in Hawaii). The theme is that life rises and falls like the ocean tide. The middle painting is the largest. The outer two are half its size and the furthest out are one fourth of its size. I go from at the ocean, in it, with it, in it and at it. My grandfather and I broke the board that holds the paintings, off of the house my grandmother grew up in as a child. The fourth painting from the left is my favorite. I was pleased with the reflection of the water on my skin and the starfish. I remember being beside myself because I was having so much fun that day in Cayman. I belong at the ocean. My heart and soul lies in the ocean. I always feel as if I survive winter for summer. And I love summer because I can swim. And I love swimming because it reminds me of the ocean.