I’ve been asked by a number of people to tell more about the picture I have chosen as my header image.
It’s called Meditation By The Sea and it’s an American folk art oil painting dating from around 1860. You can find more about it on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/
As soon as I found it it struck me as being very evocative. The Wikipedia article suggests that the artist creates a sense of foreboding but that doesn’t resonate with me at all. Tell me what you think, I would love to hear your views.
by 
I think the man is taking some time away from a stressful situation and has come to get some space, some ozone and some time to reflect by the sea….
Thanks for the comment Maureen. I would agree, it has a sense of calm about it despite the rollers breaking against the rocks. I’m working on a story inspired by it at the moment.
“He’s a strange little man; always in black.”
“Yup, and what do you make of the frock-coat, then?”
“Oh, I dunno. Makes a statement, I s’pose. Like the black cap and beard.”
“He puts me in mind of a Tolstoy character.”
“Yeah.”
“Or the kind of figure you’d expect in some Edwardian story: all shadowy and mysterious.”
“Funny how he’s always stood in the same place.”
“Hmmm. I hadn’t thought of that, but, yeah, you’re right, always to the left of the lookout. Do you reckon he want’s us to notice him?”
“Could be.”
“What d’ya reckon he’s thinking, stood there like that. He’s always staring at the shoreline? I’d say he’s expecting someone – or something – he knows to come out of the water at any moment.”
“Ha ha ha. P’raps he thinks he’s Robert Graves writing his ‘Welsh Incident’ poem: you know,
….‘Describe just one of them.’
‘I am unable.’
‘What were their colours?’
‘Mostly nameless colours,
Colours you’d like to see; but one was puce
Or perhaps more like crimson, but not purplish.
Some had no colour.’
‘Tell me, had they legs?’
‘Not a leg or foot among them that I saw.’
‘But did these things come out in any order?’
“Hahhahaha! don’t be so daft!”
“Well, Dreambeach would be the right place for it, don’t you think? I mean, whichever way you look at it, this place has always warped perspective. Let’s face it how many places do you know where the sea chucks pebbles onto the sand, bigger than your head?”
“Good point. And what about that giant’s stiletto sticking out of the horizon?”
“Exactly”.
Wonderful