FEELING THE SAND (Julie Stead)

The pure joy of childhood at Muizenberg Beach is captured in this mixed-media oil painting. Where everything fades away except your games in the sand. The focal point is a little girl, completely absorbed in play, her hands sinking into the warm, golden sand. Her curly hair, a striking feature, is enhanced with bright Kings Blue paint, ribbons made from vibrant Shwe Shwe fabric, and pink beads placed around her head to add texture and movement. Small gold beads bring the sand itself to life, inviting the viewer to almost feel its grainy texture. To evoke the shimmering light and reflections of the sea, blue-grey reflective beads are scattered across the blue water, and when they catch the light they sparkle. Through the combination of oil paint and mixed media elements, this piece is a tactile and visually immersive experience, capturing a child's sensory delight of a day at the beach.