Natures Nightlight

Natures Nightlight, 2026,Oil on Canvas, 40x30​ I anticipate that fear will be a part of every journey I embark on. That said, since a child my family has shown me that fear is only frightening to those unwilling to face it. When I was a child, my biggest fear was of the dark. My father took me outside and showed me how to catch fireflies. We used them to light up my room in a way that showed me the beauty in things that I'm afraid of. It was the most beautiful nightlight a kid could ask for. The fireflies light up the scene in this painting which allows you to see the beautiful background. The expressions on our faces reflect the joy in being with those willing to help you on your journey through fear. This piece is about the beauty in facing what appears frightening with the help of your personal relationships. The process of creating this was very tedious. Using a single color, I captured value through placing burnt umber on the canvas and subtracting it. To do so I used various tools like q-tips, cloths, the back of brushes, palette knives etc. The method of subtraction taught me strategic planning and ultimately brought this piece together.​