Someone's Sunset

In September 2021, I painted “Someone’s Sunrise,” a painting of a homeless man sleeping on the beach with the Florida panhandle sun shimmering across the gulf waters. I witnessed this quiet soul sleeping amidst his meager possessions, a stark contrast to the beauty unfolding above.

I was early in developing my painting skills, and I really struggled with the sand. Oh God, the sand! Every stroke felt like a misstep, each grain a cruel reminder of my limitations. The more I fought it, the worse it became. Finally, with a defeated sigh, I surrendered.

This piece is my renewal of that painting. The man sits, eyes closed against the sky and the waves, bathed in the golden hues of dusk. The sand? Gone. What a way to learn to embrace my strengths and let go of the battles I didn’t need to fight in the first place.