This painting is part of an ongoing series of images that are inspired by the night sky and Virginia Blue Ridge landscape that I remember from my childhood. Evening Star is my memory of what it was like to watch Venus appear over the mountains as the evening settles in. This was an immersive, complete experience for me as a child—tired from a day spent outside and very much in awe of the changes in the sky.
The 48 by 72 inch canvas uses gold leaf and manganese blue to create the shimmer of afterglow against a rich field of hand-painted circles that fade from luminous center to darker edges. Although very much inspired by a specific landscape, the result is abstracted from memory, or something close to that. That memory is a deep imprint, so even with some references available while painting, I found myself remembering more than rendering as I worked.
In its new home, I’m hoping the gold leaf will catch the light differently throughout the day, replaying that moment when stars first become visible—brighter than expected, and always mysterious.
This was special commission for me and I am grateful as always to have had the chance to create this painting for an appreciative audience.
The photos below show details and a studio view of this custom commission in the Brooklyn studio prior to delivery to the collector.
