River’s Journey: A Metaphor for Life
“In River’s Journey, I invite viewers to reflect on the river not just as a natural feature, but as a metaphor for life—ever-moving, ever-changing, and shaped by the contours of its path.” — Anne Stine
The Potomac and Shenandoah rivers near my home have always been a source of inspiration and comfort for me all my life. Whenever I visit, I feel rejuvenated and creatively refreshed. Through these encaustic paintings, I invite viewers to embark on their own journey with the river, to lose themselves in its depths and find solace in its currents.
A river’s journey, from a tiny stream to its merging with the open waters, feels a lot like the story of life itself. That’s the idea behind my encaustic painting collection, “River’s Journey.” Each piece reflects the river’s path and, in turn, our own experiences as we navigate this crazy, beautiful thing called life. Through each encaustic painting, the river becomes not just a physical presence but a reminder of the resilience and grace that define the human spirit.
A river starts small, just like we do. From its source, it bubbles up, full of energy, carving its way through whatever lies ahead. It’s the perfect metaphor for our early years—innocent, vibrant, figuring things out as we go. Every rock or tree root it encounters shapes its course, just like the challenges and lessons we face help shape who we are. Life is full of twists and turns. These moments challenge us, shape us, and ultimately make our journey compelling and worthwhile. The encaustic process, with its ability to blend and fuse layers seamlessly, beautifully mirrors this continuous motion and the evolution that comes with it.
As it continues, the river gets wider and deeper. It gains momentum, meets tributaries along the way, and grows stronger. Over time, we expand too—our relationships, experiences, and knowledge all adding to the richness of our lives. That’s the part I love to capture in my encaustic paintings—those layers of texture and color that mimic the depth and complexity of both rivers and people.
Finally, there’s the destination. For a river, it’s the open waters, where it finds freedom and becomes part of something bigger. For us, it’s reaching a place where we can look back and feel at peace with the journey we’ve traveled—whether that’s a milestone moment or just a quiet sense of fulfillment. It’s a beautiful reminder that endings aren’t really endings—they’re transitions into something new.
View the collection by clicking on the image below.
Please contact me for the paintings availability and pricing.
If you would like to see more of my work go to https://www.annestine.com. I send out a “Collectors Alert” email once a month announcing newly available artwork. You can sign up HERE to join this list.
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