Ocean Views Gallery - Home
Lighthouses
A lighthouse is usually a tall tower, building or, framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and unique lenses or, in older times, from bright flames from fire used to navigate and guide captains and even pilots. Lighthouses are used to mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shores. They were used as landmarks, and to guide you to the right harbor. And can also assist in aerial navigation. Once widely used, the number of operational lighthouses has declined due to replacement by modern electronic navigational aids.
Because of the function of these guiding lighthouses, they became symbols, a beacon of light to many people. Various organizations, groups, and churches use the image of lighthouses as their guiding beacon of light for hope and encouragement.
My love for painting lighthouses began from going offshore fishing with my brother. Fishing so far out, hours from traveling in a small boat pounding against the waves will get anybody to appreciate noticing a lighthouse moments before seeing the shoreline. I start to imagine how excited and relieved old-time captains would feel from a several month journey across the oceans, at night or in bad weather would feel when they first see a lighted beacon of Hope, knowing their treacherous journey is safer.
So welcome to my gallery of almost 100 lighthouses, some are actual lighthouses, but some come straight from my Heart, imaginary beacons of guiding Hope.
Ships & Boats plus Docks
I was raised up along the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. So ever since I can remember I have always loved the water, and things to do about the water like swimming, scuba diving, and especially fishing. Plus with one of my brothers as a licensed captain, (Captain: Rick Ryals) blessed me with great experiences around boats, ships and the local harbors and docks that support fishermen, shrimpers etc..
One of the things that I love about going way off shore, is the openness in saying the never ending horizon, the open sky, the loneliness feeling when you are the only boat in sight. In some ways I feel it brings me closer to God, feeling smaller and alone in this vast open space, but yet with faith, I realize that I am never alone, and I start thinking of all the blessings in my life.
So my experiences of being in boats are portrayed in my artwork. From observing other boats and ships near our vessel, to the feeling the motion of the various size waves, and how other ships break through the waves. I also tried to create the feeling of wind and rain, and the awesome look of storms that can overpower the largest of vessels. And of course, the pretty calm blue skies, with puffy clouds that I love the shape and into various animal life, especially my symbol of the turtle.
So Welcome to my Art Gallery, showing the different experiences and jobs that boats and ships are capable of doing. I hope that my paintings and drawings will give you feelings of excitement when looking at rough seas in a ferocious storm, but yet noticing the beauty of the open still waters that can calm any soul.
Coastal Shorelines and Beaches
The Shorelines along the edge of any bodies of water, whether it's Beaches along the oceans and seas, or the edge of Lakes and ponds and even on the edge of rivers, shorelines are calming and relaxing. Once in a while, and nowhere near often enough, I get the opportunity of being alone along various shorelines. This is where my thoughts can wander, and I can meditate, pray and clear out my mind. Yes, this can be anywhere, when you're by yourself, but seeing and hearing the movement of water seems to flush out my thoughts. And I seem to be more creative with my gift of painting with my mouth.
Remembering that there would be no life without water, gives me a better understanding of the flow of life. I have always loved to swim, because my swim I am more buoyant. My arms and my legs move freely, and it gives me a sense of normalcy. So, I believe that water gives everybody more life, freedom and movement.
So Welcome to my Art Gallery, approaching on 200 shoreline images. A lot of them are actual places that I see, but some of them are just from my memories and imagination including all the variety of life that lives around the water.
