Where do you start when creating an abstract painting? How do you make something beautiful out of nothing? In my mind, it's impossible to appreciate real beauty without first having lived. It's the experiences we collect over a lifetime that define how we see the world and where we find our inspiration. And just like in life, you can't have the good without the bad, the light without the dark, the joy without the sorrow. I try to capture this concept with layers upon layers of color and texture beneath each oil painting. The process itself creates a history, a compressed record of time that peaks through to add depth to the story. It's a journey full of surprises, and the final painting will often look dramatically different than I could ever have imagined from the start. So true with this one.

First Glimpse conveys the feeling of that first hint of Spring. The earth is still heavy and damp from months of snow, but as the wind dies down, a glimpse of color returns. There's a blush, a golden glow that whispers of warmer days. And in that moment, it feels like a revelation – the unveiling of something brand new. Light breaks through the weight of shadow, creating an edge between what came before and an unknown that's just beginning to take shape. The painting seizes on the rush of that breathless moment time. With the return of Spring to Nashville, First Glimpse also served as  inspiration for a larger work titled Strawberry Fields.

First Glimpse is composed of oil and wax on Arches paper and is part of the Veiled Horizon Collection – Landscapes of Light. Capturing the beauty of endless skies and the ever-changing world beneath. The full collection exhibit runs from 6 May – 3 June 2025, and includes an in-depth look into a few of my favorites.