For me, art begins with the sensation of being uplifted by the sheer beauty of nature. The colors grab my attention and move me to translate this feeling I get when I see a luscious green, a sparkling blue, or a peachy pink that turns to lavender. I observe all that at the beach in the Hamptons, where I now live full-time.

The ocean waves and serene waters I capture on canvas are not just pretty pictures. They are a deep dive into the core of our beach-induced transformation. Why are we so emotional about the beach? Why do we love it so deeply? How do we change internally when we are by the sea?

The ocean is a metaphor for life. It is erratic and unpredictable yet has a gentle intensity. We are astounded by the miracle of the clockwork of tide changes. Here, by the water, we feel a restrained force, yet it is tranquil. At the shoreline, the ocean snaps us into a state of attention, filling us with awe and wonder.

I am devoted to contemplating these spaces we inhabit at the seashore and how we are quite different there. Something deep inside us gets awakened at the ocean, something bigger than ourselves. The beach forces us to be present.

We are transformed at the water’s edge, and most of us cannot get enough.

– Casey Chalem Anderson