Sun Dance, 2015, Oil, Graphite and Pencil on 12″ x 12″ Wood Panel

With the longest night of the year behind us, days are growing longer now —not that anyone would notice. Still, there’s something hopeful about turning the corner in this dark season. Up at 5:30 a.m., I grope around in the dark until sunrise, frustrated by 8:30 or 9 a.m. starts in my studio. I long for springtime daylight.

I began this piece five or six days ago, but stopped with the orange-tinted underpainting and loosely sketched composition. As luck would have it, snow-squalls obscured the morning sunrise and gave me an idea for this second layer.

After finishing this piece, I spent the late afternoon clearing brambles and brush along the edge of my meadow. It felt good to be outside in the cold air and brilliant, late-day sunshine.

There’s a storm blowing in tonight: snow, sleet and freezing rain. I’m afraid that tomorrow will be dark again.

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