A Painting, A Poem, A Shared Goodbye

Hey, hello there, friend!

Every Wednesday, I get to sit down and write to you. It’s my favorite ritual—sharing stories that matter, straight from the heart. And today’s story is one I’ve held close for a while.

Last year, while I was in France for an artist residency—processing some of the deepest emotions of my life after the passing of my father—I received an unexpected email. It was from poet and professor David Caplan, asking permission to use one of my paintings, Sun Is Shining, for the cover of his new book of poetry.

As soon as he shared the context—that his book, North Shore: Poems of Mourning and Remembrance, was a tribute to his own father—I felt goosebumps. It felt like more than a coincidence. It felt like something bigger. A subtle, serendipitous moment of connection between two strangers, navigating loss through their art.

I’m so honored that Sun Is Shining became the face of this deeply moving collection. I asked David a few questions about the collaboration, and here’s what he shared:

Sun is Shining by Drica Lobo

What drew you to this particular piece, and how do you feel it reflects the themes within your poetry collection?

"I love the vibrancy of the painting’s color. Although the painting depicts a scene on the other side of America, it reminds me of the pier at Fisherman’s Beach in Swampscott, Massachusetts. My parents met at the beach and lived in Swampscott for nearly all their married lives. I grew up in the town. North Shore largely consists of elegies for my father. Many are set in the north shore of Boston (the north shore of the collection’s title). I didn’t want the cover, though, to be mournful or somber. Rather, I liked how the painting expresses a kind of journey to a colorful horizon through the shady, aged pilings of the pier."

What was it like to collaborate on this cover design?

"I was delighted by the creative happenstance of how beautifully a painting that depicts a different scene from those of my poems captures their spirit, with the mixture of age and vibrant light, water and solidity. It suggests, at least to me, a movement from a place to somewhere beyond it."

I couldn’t have said it better. That’s the kind of art I want to keep creating—something that transcends location, background, and even time. Something that carries us from here… to somewhere more luminous.

North Shore by David Caplan

📘 North Shore by David Caplan is now available—featuring my painting Sun Is Shining on the cover.

And guess what? The original painting is still available for collectors who connect deeply with this story and its message. If that’s you, reach out anytime. I’d love to tell you more.

Thank you for being here with me today. Now it’s your turn:Have you ever experienced a moment of synchronicity like this? A time when art, emotion, or memory aligned in an unexpected way?

Share your thoughts in the comments—I'd love to hear them.

Color Your Life!

Drica