Painting

In my art class, our second painting we were to do had to be 1: bigger than our first one (which was a bit bigger than a sheet of computer paper), and 2: it had to represent ourselves or something we were fond of. (my teacher hates the "cute" pictures, like kitties and puppies and stuff. She doesn't feel they represent people very well) Anyway, my dad's birthday was coming up so I wanted to paint him something. After searching through hundreds of photos, I found one of me jumping the waves at Trinidad. So, after a few weeks of painting and not getting very far (I only go to school 2 days a week), I took it home the weekend of Spring Break and three days before my dad's birthday. So I had to hide it from him until his birthday, then unveiled it with a bed sheet.

It's 36 in X 20 in, and I did a bit more painting after I showed him of course, so it's not exactly how it is in the picture. The rock in the background was purple. Don't ask me how I made it purple, it just happened. I worked more on it today, so when it is all done and framed, I shall take another picture. Dad loved the painting. I didn't know it when I chose the picture, but this was my Dad's favorite picture he took at the coast. When I first showed him, all he could say was "Wow". He said it about ten times. My classmates at school agree and are always saying how good it looks whenever they see it. They don't believe me when I say I haven't painted much before. Although their compliments are nice, I kind of wish they wouldn't mainly because I don't know what to say or come off as rude if I don't, so I just smile and say thanks.
I'm happy how the painting is coming out, and Dad is so excited that I painted it for him. Now we just need to find a place in the house big enough to put it...