Near the village of Cambria, in central California, is this rugged beach with a mile long wooden boardwalk designed for viewing. In December, just before the holidays, we visited Cambria to see the decorations. The weather was threatening, with occasional drops of rain. While walking along the boardwalk at Moonstone Beach, I took photographs, from which this painting was developed. The woman started off to be my wife. But as the painting developed, she became this unknown person. She is clad warmly against the cold and damp, gazing at the sea breaking over the rocks, and at a lone bird flying by. The bird was actually in one of my photographs. Also, notice the faint footmarks in the sand showing where a solitary jogger passed earlier.