Beaches are magical. Their ecological role of course is important, an active, often high energy environment. This is also where our human soul can take flight and dream, losing itself in the play of light, the sound of gentle waves, the fading horizon. There is not much as therapeutic as taking our shoes off and letting the sand drift under our toes back in the ocean with the retreating flow of water. Yes, birds and fish and other pelagic species need that shoreline, and so do we. We should not forget that in the list of priorities to preserve beaches and ocean. Oil paint was a lovely way to blend sky and light and get a dreamlike horizon when we can get lost.