Where the Paddle Rests

About this piece

A red kayak rests on the sandy shore, its paddle laid diagonally across the foreground beneath a luminous orange sky. At right, a brick fort and projecting seawall give weight and direction to the composition, counterbalancing the small sailboats along the horizon. Golden reflections soften the water, lending the scene an expansive stillness.

The story

In the first days of January, gold spreads across the water beneath a narrow band of orange sky. A paddle lies across the kayak, its blade pointing toward the open bay. Seaweed marks the quiet meeting of sand and water, while distant masts draw fine lines against the light. Beside the fort, a bright opening casts a small yellow reflection into the sheltered water. The year begins here with room to pause.