Acrylic on Canvas 20 X 26 Inches 51 X 66 cm Perhaps one of the most famous settings in Australia’s ocean going community, Bell’s Beach is world renowned for its massive waves which engulf the coastline only once every fifty years...according to legend. The Antarctic winds send the swells north until reaching the south shores of Australia, drawing surfers from around the globe to challenge the powerful ocean and defy death. About an hour south of Melbourne, near the town of Torquay, Bell’s Beach was first discovered by local surfers, who in order to access the beach, had to cross Mrs. Bell’s farm land. Being a widow, she always welcomed the foot traffic through her property and eventually even had a path leading directly to the beach constructed so that the surfers could enjoy their treasured spot. When Mrs. Bell died, the surfing community repaid her years of kindness by naming the beach in her honour. Bell’s beach is now a protected national site. This depiction was painted on an unusually calm day at Bell’s. The water was like glass and there were no people in sight. With the rapid brush strokes and heavy earth tones, the artist has portrayed his impression of what he had expected to see at Bells, rather than the serene and unmoving water of the South Pacific at the time.