Girl in the Green Hat

Painted from my own photo of my daughter in a borrowed (too large) hat on a beach in Destin, Florida. I have saved the photo all these years as a favorite that I wanted to paint. Now, with about 30 years of experience as an artist, including extensive plein air experience for the last eight years, I decided to tackle it during the winter leading into the quarantine. Normally, I avoid working from photos but I felt like I was able to breathe life into this scene using my memories as well. It is oil on a Belgian linen panel. I think that it conveys the feeling of the beautiful clear, emerald water in Destin, as well as the intensity of my daughter actively building a drip castle in the unseen distance.