11 x 14

Oil on Panel

Shadow Frame

Lights on at night has always been a fascinating subject for me. I have always loved the contrast of lights in windows and fireflies. This year we broke out the fire pit for the fun feeling of a bonfire without all the work of a bonfire, because it was literally chilly the whole week I taught. It just had to be painted. This night was the week I taught and we spent a lot of time gathering sticks and just immersing ourselves in a good reason to hang out and laugh. And we laugh so much it is sad to think I have probably not laughed that much since! Painting this painting made me relive one of my favorite nights at Nimrod and yes, before we went to bed we poured water on the smouldering embers (or a specific person who debated this with me over the last bit of bourbon, at length).

People ask me all the time about the no faces in my paintings and it is simple, the specific face is not what is interesting to me, it is the fact that it represents all people or capturing one with a few simple strokes of the paint. THAT is fun, but worrying with all the features when my interest in is the scene is just irrelevant to me.  When anyone see's painting of my kids that I've done they are stunned to find that I can paint a face because I guess it seems like I can't when it is just a choice.

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