Pelican Harbor Park Boat Ramp, Miami Beach, FL

As a denizen of a first-ring suburb in the frozen north, out of necessity I learned to take pleasure from what formerly got me down. I am at home in empty parking lots, looking at signs advertising products and services that no longer exist. Even when traveling, I tend to gravitate to the parts of cities that are on the margin. Miami Beach's Pelican Boat Ramp is near the middle of the pedestrian-unfriendly 79th Street Causeway. Across the road from this scrubby park, the intrepid traveler will find a pelican sanctuary, which is most magical just before sunset. I chose instead to paint the routered municipal park sign. Without it, I wouldn't have found the pelicans in the first place. I enjoy trying to find new ways to put color on my paintings. For this image I carved rubber stamps for the grass and used a simple stencil technique for the tree.