My Dad loves to paint. He uses thick, impasto brushstrokes like Van Gogh did. He mostly paints seascapes and there’s always a little church and a fishing boat in his paintings. The smell of oil and turps reminds me of him. I came across these whimsical paintings by Alena Shymchonak, and immediately, I thought about my Dad’s crude strokes. There’s something so tactile about this way applying paint. Shymchonak’s breaking waves look like they’re made of whipped cream. You almost want to eat them. I find her beach scenes so cheerful. I’d love to see her palette at the end of the day.