At certain times of the year I am able to observe the full moon close to the horizon on the Pacific, just north of San Francisco. I can imagine being out on the water and at a low angle it seems as if the moon is actually sinking into the ocean. That was the idea I wanted to get into this painting. Edward Lear's poem The Owl and the Pussycat was also on my mind when planning this work, so there is owl placed above the occupants of the "boat" for good measure!

- Robert Bissell