I have loved the beach since I was a child. I used to play in the waves for hours. The power of the water impressed me and the transparent turquoise color of the rolling waves always gave me a thrill. The way the waves spread out on the beach with all the little bubbles, then slow down and run back, only to be overlapped by another wave, is fascinating. The tremendous feeling of light and space on a beach is wonderful. I chose the ibis (for my painting) because its colors suit the color of the water. White alone would not have been good; the red bill and legs were necessary. Their elegant way of foraging brings a poetic element to the painting. Ibis love warm climates, so they are mostly found in the tropics. - CB