A quiet pause. The held breath. Fermata: hold on to this note for as long as you wish.
I wanted to create a moment of repose; a peaceful interlude where we observe that nature has wandered in. Perhaps someone has just left the table, or is about to arrive. The owl watches patiently, a silent watcher and the butterfly flits around like a memory, alighting here and there.
I loved the hours in front of the canvas, painstakingly sketching and then adding layer after layer of color and texture. And a special delight was, in wandering with my camera, I chanced upon an owl, who patiently waited while I fumbled with the unfamiliar dials and buttons to snap several photos. He only blinked at me, mildly curious, as I captured his image, later to be used as inspiration for the fellow in the painting.
24x36" Acrylic on stretched canvas. 2026.
**This piece has been purchased and is currently on view at Gallery Erato, Seattle. 8.6.26-9.5.26.
