The Art of Moving Forward

You know that view when someone's walking away from you in their favorite sneakers? There's something about it that just stays with you. That's what I captured in Timeless Stride – those classic red Converse from behind, paired with soft, worn jeans and that easy, unhurried walk we all recognize.

After spending years as a school principal watching kids and families navigate all kinds of life changes, I've become pretty fascinated by those quiet in-between moments. The pauses. The everyday walks that don't seem like much but somehow carry us forward. Now that I'm retired and painting full-time, these are the moments that really grab me.

This painting came from that feeling of forward motion, but not the frantic kind. It's more like the stride you take on a good day when the path feels familiar and you're just enjoying being out there. The sneakers are a little scuffed up, which I actually love – they've got stories to tell. Combined with those soft jeans and that relaxed pace, the whole scene feels like it could belong to anyone, anywhere, from any time.

What I'm really getting at with Timeless Stride is this idea of trusting your own pace, feeling good about where you've been, and finding peace in the simple act of moving forward. It's a quiet painting, but it has a lot to say.

I hope when people look at it, they think about their own walks, the ones that helped them think through something, or brought them back to themselves, or just felt really good. There's real beauty in that kind of everyday freedom.