"Morning Light, Iona" is a painting born from a joyful morning outdoors, during a class with my dear friend and teacher Liza Visagie (do visit Liza's website!). This piece captures a fleeting moment at Iona Beach Regional Park, one of the West Coast's most tranquil and beautiful spots.

I began with a quick block-in, then raced to capture the soft, fuzzy light as it streamed through parting clouds. My focus was on rendering those delicate beams of light in the focal area before they vanished. I aimed for a mid-tone sky with a real sense of weight, achieved by using a thick, light tone of oil paint infused with warm yellows to convey that ethereal glow. I'm truly happy to have expressed the deep joy I felt, painting amidst friends in such an inspiring setting.