What began as a blank dining room wall in a luxury condo overlooking Shell Key Preserve became a six-foot-wide, four-foot-tall custom painting — the visual heartbeat of this home’s common area.
When my clients first reached out, they were looking for an original painting for their dining room wall. But when I stepped into the space, I knew it could be a lot more than that. This piece needed to be the focal point — commanding attention, pulling the light inward, and infusing the room with energy and movement.
I felt the work needed to go beyond capturing a view. These owners have a deep reverence for nature and natural materials, a quality that shines throughout their Florida vacation flat. Real wood floors — rare in this region — anchor their home, complemented by richly grained wood finishes and furniture throughout the space. Beyond the wood, their aesthetic is coastal yet contemporary, and I wanted the painting to feel like it belonged while still making a statement — a delicate balance between harmonizing with their existing space while celebrating the epic panoramic view of Shell Key Preserve in a lively, modern composition full of texture and movement.
~ A quick snapshot of the view from my clients' balcony
Our first meeting was purely conversational. We talked about what they loved: the warmth and grains of real wood, the shifting colors of the water and sky, and the joy of being surrounded by nature. So many possibilities for something amazing! I was happy to hear they weren’t afraid of bold color, so I offered four distinct composition concepts based on their view, each one capturing a different atmospheric moment:
- A full-sun, sparkling expanse of aqua waters
- A serene soft pink sunset over gleaming aqua waters
- A dreamy twilight with a crescent moon emerging
- A warm, moody red and purple storm softened sunset
~ I presented four composition sketches to choose from
I wanted this piece to light the space and bring brighter colors in and around the room, so in the compositions, I used colors I knew would compliment in the space.
When I presented the concepts, the choice was narrowed down to the crescent moon and the bright, sunlit panorama. Selecting only one for the final painting was hard(!) so we discussed the feelings the art would bring - a daytime painting would cheerful, bright vibes, and the moon painting bringing softer, more dreamy, mysterious vibes. After weeks of deliberation, they chose Glistening Waters to magnify the space with a classic daytime painting of the Shell Key sanctuary alive with midday light.
Using large palette knives and all the colors of shallow waters from greens to aquas to turquoise to ceruleans to hints of pinks and lavender, I built layers of color and texture before refining the details with brushes. The viewer’s eye moves through varying aquas and greens of shallow waters, past swaying palms, over the sandy spit, and up into a sky dotted with soft, billowing clouds. The effect is both dynamic and calming—a living, breathing view suspended in time.
For the finishing touch, my clients chose one of my favorite Italian frames, a refined walnut, accented with a brushed champagne bronze edge. This frame is both contemporary and elegant, with clean lines that pick up the warm tones of the condo’s fixtures and enhance the natural elegance of the space.
Now, every time you enter this space, Glistening Waters greets you like an expansive sunlit invitation—celebrating the beauty of Shell Key Preserve and the enduring connection between nature, light, and home.
