Rear View Mirror: A Shift in Perspective, A Tribute to the Ocean

As an artist, I often work from photographs—moments frozen in time that hold a depth beyond what the eye can see. My love for the ocean makes me a devoted fan of talented ocean photographers, and none are more skilled at capturing the raw beauty of the sea than Marcus Paladino. His ability to translate the movement, energy, and essence of the surf into a single frame is unparalleled.

Rear View Mirror is inspired by one of those moments—an unexpected perspective from behind the wave, looking out toward the towering forests of Cox Bay in Tofino. It’s a striking contrast: the fluidity and transparency of water meeting the solid, ancient presence of the land. A reminder that adventure often lies in shifting our perspective, in seeing things from a different angle, in allowing nature to guide us into new ways of understanding.

In collaborating with this image, I sought to translate the feeling of that perspective shift into paint—the way light bends through water, the way the ocean holds both chaos and calm, the way we are always moving forward, even when looking back.

Rear View Mirror is for those who embrace adventure, who revel in the unexpected, and who find wisdom in the meeting of elements—the dance between movement and stillness, flow and foundation, ocean and shore.

For inquiries regarding the original oil painting or limited edition prints, please contact us.