This beach is so familiar to me. It is the new home of our bonfires. Previously, we were at Coronado State Beach, but it was often windy, (directly on the Pacific Ocean) plus there was a fee to park….AND they told you to leave shortly after sunset.

This beach, in San Diego’s Mission Bay is much nicer. It is calmer, sheltered, no fee to park, no time restrictions AND in the summer, we can see the fireworks from Sea World, less that half a mile away.

This painting was inspired by my sister’s birthday party. I took a series of photos set up on a tri-pod. I ended up using a composite of about 6 different photos to create a composition before I was finally pleased. It was a challenge to get the viewer’s eyes to move about the painting that also included moving up to the sky area, finally ending with the focal point; the fire pit and kids toasting Marshmallows.