This oil painting with hand-stitched thread brings together my love of vivid color, water’s calming presence, and luxurious texture. The boats are built with a palette knife, layered in ribbon-like strokes that give the hulls energy and structure. In contrast, the water and reflections are painted with a smoother finish, creating a sense of depth and quiet movement.

Colored threads are stitched into select areas of the water and the boats’ mirrored shapes, catching light and adding a tactile shimmer that shifts as you view it. Influenced by living in Florida—its bright light and saturated palette—and the sense of calmness water gives me, this piece is a meditation on stillness, reflection, and the beauty and joy of color made tangible.