Ricardo Romero Cortez Duque

Long Way Back to Shore / 36×48” / acrylic + canvas

This painting tells the story of a crossing that is nearly finished, though land remains unseen. The sea stretches outward in layered blues, calm but weighty, carrying the memory of distance traveled rather than the promise of what comes next. Above it, the sky softens into pale light, as if dawn and dusk have agreed to meet halfway.

Nothing moves quickly here. The horizon is blurred, uncertain, suggesting a moment when direction matters less than endurance. This is not the drama of departure or arrival, but the quieter chapter in between — when resolve replaces urgency, and the traveler trusts that the water knows where it is going.

The Long Way Back to Shore is a story about patience and faith in continuation. It reflects the understanding that some journeys are not meant to be rushed, and that clarity often comes not from seeing the destination, but from staying afloat long enough for the light to change.