Fresh Kicks and Floral Vibes

Fresh Kicks and Floral Vibes takes me straight back to those amazing summers at sailing school in Toronto. Picture this: barefoot in pink-striped Tretorns, sitting on the grass at Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club, trying not to scuff those pristine white soles on the boat deck. Those shoes weren't just part of what we wore, they were like this unspoken rule we all understood. Keep them clean, respect the boat.

But honestly? Those Tretorns carried us through so much more than sailing lessons. They were with us through windy days on the water, hours of folding sails, sun-soaked afternoons, and all those little moments when you're learning something completely new and feeling pretty good about it.

Tretorns aren't as everywhere as Converse or Vans, but if you know, you know. That logo is like spotting an old friend. The soft pink stripe, those clean white soles, the way they looked perfect with rolled-up jeans and bare ankles... it's such a specific moment in time, you know?

I threw in a pink Gerber daisy to play off that stripe and pull everything together. It's a tiny detail, but just like those summer memories, it's the kind of thing that stays with you.

This painting is really about those clean, simple moments when your biggest worry was grass stains on your shoes and your heart felt light as air. That perfect mix of fresh air, sunshine, and pure, uncomplicated joy.

I'm hoping it brings people back to their own version of "Tretorn moments," whatever those might look like for them.