I really could not wait to get started. But where to begin? I combed through my countless photos of the waters of my recent trip to the Turquoise Coast.

Mesmerized by the radiance, the glow emanating from the sea.

I have this recurring dream where I am underwater… sometimes its a pond, sometimes the lineup at Mākaha on a flat day, or sometimes simply a pool. In my dream I am always calm, floating in the water, perfect temperature… womb-like.

Glass Pool, Vegas, 15-years-old

The curious thing is that I look up, see the light of day above me. But I never want to leave. I am perfectly and simply happy to be amongst the rocks, the fish, plants or whatever is on the bottom. I think of Bjork’s The Anchor Song

When I was going through chemo I had recurring dreams of water… that radiant, glowing blue of the tropics… and my desire to get in. I had my shortboard, and all I wanted was to duck-dive under a wave.

Photo: Bernie Baker

Water over my head, its all I wanted… cool my body, comfort my soul.

My water paintings are countless…  they began on my first trip to Barbados and the Grenadines in 1989. I spent some days on Palm Island in the Windward Islands.

There I felt my first enchantment with that color blue. Was it Turquoise blue or Cerulean?

No, Turquoise is truly what I saw in Turkey.

At last,  the final paintings….

“Turquoise Blues I” 40×40″

“Turquoise Blues II” 40×40″

“Turquoise Blues III” 40″x40″

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"Turquoise Blues I" 40x40"

"Turquoise Blues II" 40"x40"