Aurelia’s Pick: See You at the Beach

At Found Image Press, favorite images are rarely chosen for just one reason. Sometimes it’s the color, sometimes the humor, sometimes the strange and wonderful feeling that an image has its own personality. Aurelia Bell, our Artistic Visionary, picked this month’s image, Dog Dressed in Beachwear — a beach scene with a dog so stylish, so unbothered, and so cool that it practically radiates sunshine. It’s playful, funny, and packed with the kind of vintage charm that makes you want to step straight into the picture and shake that dog’s paw.

What first drew you to this image?  

It’s colorful, I love dogs, and this dog is just so cool. I really want to be its friend. The sunglasses, the hat, and the poncho are just “chef’s kiss.” This dog is basically the epitome of cool. 

What does this image make you feel?  

This dog looks like it has absolutely nothing to prove and knows it. It’s just out there living its best beach life, being iconic without even trying. That kind of confidence is everything. Even though I’m not really a beach person, this image makes me want to be one. It makes me want to lie in that hammock, drinking piña coladas, tequila sunrises, and blue Hawaiians with that dog. It feels like one of those pictures that can temporarily convince you to change your whole personality. 

What do you think this image says about its time period?  

To me, it says everybody loves the beach and dogs. And being so cool that you want to hang ten. It has that sunny, laid-back, colorful energy that feels very fitting for its time, but also somehow very current. 

Why do you think this image still resonates today?  

Growing up in San Diego, I was surrounded by beach lovers. I believe that no matter the time period, if you live near the beach or can travel there, you go. Although I’m not a beach person in the lay out kind of way, I go to the beach with my dogs and love it. Especially now. The winter weather here has been more like summer, so we’ve had plenty of extra beach time. We even saw some dogs like this at the Del Mar Dog Surf Contest a few months ago, which honestly felt like this exact vibe brought to life. 

If you could give this image a title, what would it be? 

“See You at the Beach, Bitches.” Because, you know - female dogs.  

Aurelia’s pick is exactly the kind of image we love. It’s funny, stylish, a little absurd, and impossible to ignore. It captures the magic of vintage imagery at its best — not just documenting a mood but creating one. Some summer beach pictures are merely charming. Others make you want to grab a drink, find a hammock, and befriend the coolest dog on the beach.