River Boat, 2026

Watercolor on paper, 20×16 inches with a one inch white border around the image.

River Boat began as a project during a family trip to Tamarindo, Costa Rica in early 2026. While walking along the Río Tacasolapa, I was struck by a small fleet of river boats used to tour Las Baulas National Marine Park. Their surfaces were heavily weathered, layered with multiple coats of faded paint, while a tattered sun cover draped across one vessel emphasized its long exposure to the coastal elements.

The scene is dominated by expansive warm blues reflected from the sand and sky, evoking the sensory experience of heat, salt air, and bright coastal vistas. These cool tones contrast with the warm yellow-orange hull and the buoys that drift rhythmically with the current. In the distance, the Pacific opens the composition outward, with the quiet presence of the moon reinforcing the sense of space and calm.