The Process:
Held in Light | 2025
My first plein air oil painting. Created during a season of difficulty and reflection, Held in Light considers the possibility that love is never truly lost. Through luminous color and softened edges, the painting explores the feeling of being guided, protected, and gently held by something greater than ourselves.
After a stain of burnt sienna all over the canvas, and an initial block-in of the major shapes is established. The light was changing fast in real time, bringing a new set of challenges and opportunities.
The water, hills, and banks are blocked in, making sure I work fast to capture the right values and temperature of the colors as the sun casts long shadows on the landscape.
The painting is finished in the studio. The lights are brightened for more contrast, and I give the water some extra attention to make sure the reflections match the sky. Given that the clouds were moving so fast, I chose one specific effect to capture and committed to it. The painting is complete!
Perhaps love does not disappear. Perhaps it simply changes form, teaching us to recognize its presence in new ways.