before we touched the water

"before we touched the water"

Medium - acrylic on cradled aquabord

Size - 11 x 14 inches

Created - July 2022

Since childhood, my family has spent a week each summer along the Gulf Coast. Close to home yet wholly transportive, these trips were marked by salt in the air, steady ocean breezes, and enough sun to carry us through the rest of the year. During a recent visit, I found myself drawn to the pristine sand dunes just beyond our beach house, where the land slowly gives way to the sea. I took countless photographs, knowing I would eventually return to them through paint.

What captivated me most was the interwoven web of plant life threading through the dunes—the way grasses build upon themselves, anchoring the shifting hills of sand. Dominated by sea oats, bitter panicum, and marshy cordgrass, these fragile systems can be reshaped entirely by hurricanes, yet they persist, rebuilding over time. In this way, the dunes act as both protection and memory, stabilizing the coastline while quietly recording what has passed.

As the series evolved, I allowed it to change organically. Early paintings remained more contained and precise, but as familiarity with the landscape and palette deepened, the work loosened—becoming increasingly abstract, textured, and intuitive, guided more by feeling than form.

Comes ready to hang on cradled aquabord with 1.5 inch side depth.  Sides have been painted to match the artwork.  Painting sealed with a matte varnish for UV protection. Artist signature on front, title/date on back. 

For inquiries regarding custom landcape commissions please email me at mereoneal@gmail.com