I am honored to share my latest watercolor painting, “Guiding Me Home”.  This piece was born from a quiet kind of remembering—the kind that lives in salt air, weathered wood, and stories passed down from grandfathers of locals like me.  It is inspired by the historic lighthouse on Bald Head Island and those who lived through the Great Depression—an era marked by hardship, devotion, and hope.

The weathered lighthouse stands with quiet strength. There is a moment of calm as its soft golden light spills across the shallow, misty marsh like a promise kept.  At the same time, there is a sense of urgency to seek shelter as an unexpected storm approaches and the sky begins to darken with the setting sun.  A lone, weary fisherman rows a small wooden boat, laden with nets, the day’s catch, and a lantern—symbols of quiet determination, survival, and hope.  His slow, steady movement through the marsh speaks to the weight of responsibility and the deep, unspoken commitment to provide for those waiting at home.  A bird is perched watchfully on a weathered post among windswept reeds, while a distant flock of seagulls fly inland seeking shelter before the approaching storm.

Old Baldy is North Carolina’s oldest standing lighthouse.  For over 200 years, it has remained steadfast, serving as a vital marker for sailors navigating the entrance to the Cape Fear River.  Built in 1817 and 109 feet tall, it casts light toward the treacherous Frying Pan Shoals—a stretch of shifting sands extending more than thirty nautical miles into the Graveyard of the Atlantic.  In the 1980s, the Mitchell family purchased Bald Head Island, restored the lighthouse, and established the Old Baldy Foundation, preserving it for generations to come.

This painting tells more than the story of one fisherman, though you can almost feel the weight he carries.  It reflects the broader human experience of navigating uncertainty, carrying unseen burdens, and pressing forward with hope when the way is unclear, trusting what can’t always be seen. Every detail—from the warm glow across the water, to the posture of the fisherman and the stillness of the bird—was chosen to convey a sense of stillness and urgency, of hardship and hope, of grit and grace.

This piece is a tribute to the people, places, and quiet anchors that guide us through life’s ever-changing tides—and to the faith that carries us through its storms.  I invite you to pause with “Guiding Me Home” and reflect on the lights in your own life—the constants that bring clarity in difficult times, and the hope that leads you safely back to what matters most.