I am fortunate to have a group of artists that meet up regularly to do some plein air painting. This early morning location was at a marina near Jack London Square. Boats in marinas fascinate me, yet every time I go to a Marina to do a plein air painting, I am quickly overwhelmed by the complicated subject matter before me. This marina, in particular, was quite complex. I walked around with my camera for over half an hour, looking at various compositions. Finally, I settled on the simplicity of this cobalt blue boat sitting in the water, as I loved how inviting it was. I quickly learned that even a simple-looking boat can be deviously challenging to paint. Fortunately, I could simplify my color palette, mainly using blues, yellows, and browns to create a harmonious feel. Even now, as I look at the painting, I feel like the boat is offering me an invitation to get in and go for a little journey.