The scene represents a trio of bathers who are at a bench shaded by an umbrella (unseen) perhaps playing cards. The striped umbrellas and the tall building in the distance identify the scene as Crystal Cove on the California-coast (freely interpreted). The painting came about as an attempt to capture the brilliant late afternoon light coming off the sea as it strikes a complex scene.

One of the most iconic views of Laguna Beach
is this one from Heisler Park. Above a pristine beach a handsome tree-covered cliff juts westward into the Pacific, partially obscuring the town itself.

Heavy wooden tables with sturdy benches
accompanied by beach umbrellas line the seaward edges of this sandy beach. In the
painting I attempted to show these tables with a few figures along with a mist-obscured view of buildings beyond the beach.

The trees are made up of strongly contrasting patches of color and form a diagonal movement into depth. While that and the diminished size of the trees sets up a movement in one direction; white waves both parallel and oppose the direction of the palm trees to create some visual energy.