Before The Plunge

Before the Plunge is an original contemporary painting inspired by one of the most familiar rituals of summer on the French Riviera—the quiet pause before diving into the Mediterranean. Suspended between anticipation and movement, the composition captures that fleeting moment when time seems to slow, just before the body meets the water.

Inspired by countless mornings and afternoons spent swimming along the coast between Nice, Cap Ferrat and the surrounding Côte d'Azur, the painting explores the emotional experience of the Mediterranean rather than a specific location. The striped swimsuit, brilliant blue sea and simplified graphic forms evoke the timeless elegance of Riviera summers while inviting the viewer to recall their own memories of salt air, warm stone and sunlit water.

Created using acrylic, oil and hand-painted collage on canvas, Before the Plunge combines bold geometry, layered textures and vibrant Mediterranean blues into a composition that feels both contemporary and nostalgic. A one-of-a-kind original painting inspired by the French Riviera, it celebrates the simple joy of slowing down, taking a breath, and surrendering to the sea.

Inspirations

Inspired by years of returning to Le Plongeoir, La Réserve and Coco Beach in Nice, Before the Plunge reflects a place that has become deeply familiar through countless swims, walks and quiet moments by the sea. Across every season, these shores have become part of my own story—from watching cliff jumpers dive into the Mediterranean on warm summer afternoons to walking around Cap de Nice towards Villefranche-sur-Mer during the quieter winter months.

Over time, the shimmering light on the water, the iconic diving platforms, and the timeless elegance of Breton stripes became more than visual memories. They came to represent a feeling of freedom, anticipation and the simple rituals that define life on the French Riviera.

Rather than depicting a specific place, this painting celebrates the universal moment just before the leap—the quiet pause between stillness and movement, when the Mediterranean invites you in. It is a tribute to endless Côte d'Azur summers, the beauty of slowing down, and the joy of surrendering to the sea.

Inspired by years of returning to Le Plongeoir, La Réserve and Coco Beach in Nice, Before the Plunge reflects a place that has become deeply familiar through countless swims, walks and quiet moments by the sea. Across every season, these shores have become part of my own story—from watching cliff jumpers dive into the Mediterranean on warm summer afternoons to walking around Cap de Nice towards Villefranche-sur-Mer during the quieter winter months.

Over time, the shimmering light on the water, the iconic diving platforms, and the timeless elegance of Breton stripes became more than visual memories. They came to represent a feeling of freedom, anticipation and the simple rituals that define life on the French Riviera.

Rather than depicting a specific place, this painting celebrates the universal moment just before the leap—the quiet pause between stillness and movement, when the Mediterranean invites you in. It is a tribute to endless Côte d'Azur summers, the beauty of slowing down, and the joy of surrendering to the sea.

Material & Features

• Original artwork
• Acrylic on canvas & collage
• 40 × 60 cm
• Gallery-wrapped canvas
• 2026
• Signed on the front
• Certificate of Authenticity included
• Worldwide shipping available upon request

• Original artwork
• Acrylic on canvas & collage
• 40 × 60 cm
• Gallery-wrapped canvas
• 2026
• Signed on the front
• Certificate of Authenticity included
• Worldwide shipping available upon request

Creative Process

Before the Plunge was developed through a series of sketches inspired by summers spent swimming along the French Riviera. Rather than recreating a particular beach or viewpoint, I distilled the scene into its essential elements—the diver, the Mediterranean, and the quiet space between them—to create a composition that evokes a universal moment of anticipation.

The sea and sky were first painted in acrylic and oil on canvas, using layered blues to capture the changing colours and reflections of the Mediterranean. Separately, the diver was hand-painted on fine art paper before being carefully cut by hand and assembled onto the canvas using collage and decoupage techniques.

This layered process creates subtle depth, texture and a handcrafted finish while emphasizing the bold graphic forms, simplified geometry and clean lines that define my work. By separating the figure from the landscape before bringing them together, the composition reinforces the suspended feeling of the moment—the split second before the plunge.

Before the Plunge was developed through a series of sketches inspired by summers spent swimming along the French Riviera. Rather than recreating a particular beach or viewpoint, I distilled the scene into its essential elements—the diver, the Mediterranean, and the quiet space between them—to create a composition that evokes a universal moment of anticipation.

The sea and sky were first painted in acrylic and oil on canvas, using layered blues to capture the changing colours and reflections of the Mediterranean. Separately, the diver was hand-painted on fine art paper before being carefully cut by hand and assembled onto the canvas using collage and decoupage techniques.

This layered process creates subtle depth, texture and a handcrafted finish while emphasizing the bold graphic forms, simplified geometry and clean lines that define my work. By separating the figure from the landscape before bringing them together, the composition reinforces the suspended feeling of the moment—the split second before the plunge.

Contact me for pricing, availability or commission inquiries.

Inquire about this painting