Salty Pine Trees

Standing above New Brighton Beach, stairs lead to a path winding up the hillside toward the forested area on top. Pine trees cling to the steep cliffs, their gnarled trunks shaped by the coastal winds and salt-laden air. In stormy weather, ocean spray blows up the bluffs, coating the trees and leaving a sheen on their needles. Yet, despite the harsh conditions, they endure—weathered but strong, their roots gripping tightly to the rugged earth. Below, the shoreline stretches out, meeting the steady rhythm of the waves. 

This 14 x 11-inch watercolor was painted on location during the 2024 Capitola Plein Air event. It is mounted on a birchwood panel and framed in a black floating frame.