Mention the magic words, "island in the sun," and most people think of the South Seas - of palm trees and tropical beaches, or white sands in the far off western sea. My response has always been straight north, having pine trees in the blood. What I see is an island of spruce and balsam, ferns and blueberries, complete with sun-warmed piney scents and wood smoke in the air.

This watercolor was painted where a trout stream runs into Lake Superior, forming a small peninsula. I live here for a good part of the year, with the river for a backyard and Lake Superior in front.

I never tire of trying to paint wave action, changing and meandering shorelines, and dry and wet sands. The intriguing part of this painting, to me, is where the waves wash over the sands. I found that by painting the sand, and when it is half dry washing blue water over it, the paint would behave the way the water does in real life. Where the colors meet, they form a wet sand beach, while I just stand by and watch it all happen - my favorite way to paint.

- Nita Engle