Still

Mooloolaba beach is one of the precious gems of the Sunshine Coast. It is the place of childhood family holidays. Of anticipation and excitement surrounded by thousands of competitors on the sandy beach waiting for their wave of the Mooloolaba Triathlon to be called. And it is the place of weekend day trips - a packed lunch, and no plans. This place is a place of memories for so many people, a place to stop and enjoy the beauty of the world around us.
The beauty of the Australian beaches will always strike me with a sense of awe and wonder. In the summer, with the warmth of the sun off the soft sand, the vibrancy of the colours of turquoise sea meeting the golden shore causes my heart to sing! These are the colours of holidays, of long beach days catching waves and playing games... stopping only for a quick picnic lunch before racing back into the cool, crystal water.
Yet there is also a quiet beauty to the cold, stormy beach days. In these days, when the sun is hidden behind the soft blue-grey clouds, the still sandy shore is almost deserted. Little but the noise of the waves can be heard washing back and forth over the dark amber of the wet sand, the occasional seagull calling as she slips between the invisible currents of the sky. I love these days, breathing in the cool, salty air allowing the tension of the day to melt away as I watch the many shades of blue and grey dance across the sky, the pure white light of the sunshine occasionally peeping through their silvery screen.
Such beauty is a perfect reflection of the cold stormy days throughout life. When little but the noise of the waves can be heard washing back and forth over the dark amber of the wet sand, I can more easily hear the voice of the One who loves me more than anything. When I watch the many shades of blue and grey dance across the sky, the pure white light of the sunshine occasionally peeps through. When the beach is deserted, and I can focus even more on the presence of of my Creator.
I have chosen to depict Moololaba beach on a beautiful stormy afternoon, just as the sun begins it's descent towards the ocean through the blue-grey sky. The boardwalk invites the viewer to journey along the path down to it's sandy shore. The sweeping strokes of the palette knife add movement to the waves, rushing back over the rocky shore. The pure white light of the sunshine peeps through it's silvery screen, highlighting the beautiful golden sand of this gorgeous beach.