This intimate canvas began as a study after my larger painting Invocation. While smaller in scale, it carries the same inspirations: the peculiar light before evening thunderstorms and childhood memories of red cedar trees in rural Virginia. Though it might seem counterintuitive, I often create these smaller versions after larger works – they demand a different kind of attention, both from me and the viewer.
The painting invites close inspection, rewarding viewers with a dense field of hand-painted circles in deep ultramarine blue and asphaltum pigments. A dramatic vertical streak of 24K gold leaf bifurcates the composition, echoing both lightning and the deep scent of cedar. Touches of deep cadmium red add warmth and depth. The synthetic canvas is stretched on 1.5-inch deep stretchers with clean white edges, ready for hanging.
