The Necklace is a painting by Ray Agius which was uploaded on January 17th, 2016.
Original - Not For Sale
Price
Not Specified
Dimensions
12.000 x 14.000 inches
This piece is not for sale. Please feel free to contact the artist directly regarding this or other pieces.
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Title
The Necklace
Artist
Ray Agius
Medium
Painting - Watercolour On Cold-pressed 300 Gsm Watercolour Paper
Description
The Necklace
Watercolour
14” X 12”
I have the necklace. It is suitably rustic.
I was sitting on the beach under a grass hat I had bought only a few days ago. In my hand a rag-paper watercolour pad. I was sketching some lads and lasses struggling to surf some insipid waves.
He walked towards me, a short, bulky 50 something Hawaiian, head down, pigeon toed, carrying a plastic bag full of sea stones. I watch him come closer avoiding the waves on the slanting beach as they spent themselves to a stop no more than 2 meters from my outstretched feet.
He stopped heavily a few feet away from me and called out “Aloha” and pointing to the sketches he says: “Nice Man!”
He flops down next to me and we talk about nothings. He showed me the stones, which he picked up from the beach and made into jewelry.
An easy bond developed and we talked about life and love as if we were friends.
At one point, after a long pause, he said: ”I will make you a necklace for your woman.” He offered me the bag and I selected a peanut sized flat, almost transparent milky blue sea stone. It seems he is a well-known Hawaiian jeweler.
I had a feeling his intention was to have ultimately ask me for money for his creation. I did not mind, I liked the chap.
He got up with surprising agility and left saying he would be back in 2 days.
That was 2 days ago.
The house I am renting on Kailua Beach has some framed posters from the 1940s. One caught my eye and I decided to reproduce it in watercolour for some relaxation. Nothing elaborate, more a dalliance to keep my hand in practice.
He came late. I was there early, swam for a while then sun-bathed under the clear sky for ages. I was about to give up when I saw him ambling a long way down the beach under the shade of the tall palms. I sat up and waved. He lifted his arm in recognition and continued towards me slowly searching the ground for those sea stones.
He walked up to me and planting 2 solid feet squarely opposite mine he pulled out the necklace and dangled it in front of my face. I heard myself murmur “Beautiful.”
It was not the stone I chose, it was a large, crimson, irregular glass piece, rubbed and polished by the sea and sand. A thin silver band snaked around it cradling the glass and creating a loop into which a thin blue cord held his creation, leaving it swing gently for my hand to cup it.
He laughed and awkwardly sat down next to me exhaling a contented sigh. I looked at it for a while then from one of 2 plastic bags, one with melting ice, I pulled 2 Long board lagers, un crowned them and passed one to him.
He took a big swing at the small bottle and as he wiped his lips he motioned to a transparent, plastic, zip-lock bag holding the painting that was sitting next to me on the beach. “What’s that man…its bootiful!”
“That’s for you” I replied. He put the beer down in the sand and slowly pulled out the painting. He was quiet staring at it then he turned his head away and rubbed some grain of sand from his eye.
He gently put the painting back in the bag and wordlessly finished the beer. We were quiet for a minute when he said: “I love you man.” I was stunned for a moment but heard myself say: “Love you too man.”
He got up without looking at me and making a Shaka sign said in parting: “Malama polo man”.
It is life, as I like it. 2 kindred spirits momentarily bonding under the Hawaiian sun.
I love the necklace.
Uploaded
January 17th, 2016
