I really never expected to find such a wonder among my husband’s collection. It’s not that I thought little of his artistic talent, but rather that it was hidden away among some old cloths in a secret corner among a lot of old empty plastic bags and dust. After peeling everything away, I found it, a tender painting that has some mystery and touched the heart.
The image is of a peaceful setting that is well known to Miami residents. It is a beach overlooking a wide inlet. On the beach’s white sand, there is a small boat and three curved coconut palms. In the distance, there is a sailboat on the placid water. While looking at the image, I feel a sense of tranquility and completeness. My husband did the painting upon returning from Vietnam, and I imagined that this peaceful image must have been somewhere inside of him while he was overseas. He had made the painting in 1971, and I found it while cleaning this year in 2023.
The painting, at 52, creates a mystery. Why is a small boat on the shore, and why is the other boat still at sea? Where are all the people? Originally, I thought that the sailboat was anchored, but my husband pointed out that the sails weren’t down. I really became immersed in the painting and started to create a story about it in my head. I thought that the small boat was a loved one who had finished his time at sea and had arrived at a peaceful place to rest. Meanwhile, the sailboat was still on the seas. The distance of the sailboat from the shore made me think that the person still in their journey was not near their end. Because of the size of the small red boat, I thought that it was a young, vivacious person with a lot of strength or vigor. Also, the coconut trees made me think of plenty and satisfaction. The person who had landed would have food. Their shade would provide shelter. I asked my husband if he had a specific place in mind, and he said that it was his “ideal beach.” Here the idea of a beach, of perfection supports my thought of the small boat arriving at the afterlife, since, the afterlife is usually a place where everything is perfect and peaceful and all souls find solace and comfort there.
Looking at the work like this brings me some measure of peace. Right now I’m listening to one of Rachmaninoff’s Romances, and the experience of the painting is much different than when I first saw it. At first, I was looking at its composition. The balance of the sides of the painting made an impression on me. The beach and the water shared an almost equal spatial arrangement with the beach on one side and the water on the other. The lines in the painting intrigued me also, as the small boat’s markings led to the water and back to the bright yellow sail as did the coconut palms’ curves. Most of all, its subject led me into contemplation. I was moved by the peace and stillness of the image plus the mysteries of the boats. I have just found out about the death of someone quite special to me. Seeing this painting helped me think that my friend was waiting in a sunny and peaceful place. So, my impression of the painting has changed from sincere admiration to an appreciation reserved normally for someone who has provided healing.
My husband liked the fact that I enjoyed thinking about his painting and that it brought me some peace about my friend. He says that he doesn’t remember what the boat symbolized, if anything, and that he chose those particular colors for technical reasons. It’s always nice to find a gem hidden away in the dusty corners of a mind, heart or home. This was definitely worth closely meditating on and I’m glad to share space with his work, and the artist isn’t so bad either! 😉
Rule Creations 