Seeking Solace in the Sky

Even in the midst of chaos, the sky remains untouched,
​its hues ever-changing and its expanse limitless.

Have you ever felt that overwhelming desire for freedom? The kind that has you dreaming of open spaces, a place in nature, away from the hustle and bustle of city life?

Well, that's been my constant yearning, especially after a whirlwind of health issues from my alpha gal allergy in 2019, followed by a pandemic quarantine,  and then a life-saving surgery in 2022 which left me recovering at home for several months. All of that left me grasping for a sense of liberation, a yearning that found its voice in an unexpected medium - soft pastel paintings of big skies.

I call this body of work simply the "Big Skies" series, and it's more than just strokes of pastel on paper; it's my way of escaping the noise, the constant chatter of city life, the continuing battle of interruptions of a peaceful moment. Living in a city neighborhood with friendly faces doesn't always translate to tranquility, and the absence of peace here sent me on a quest for a dream studio, tucked away in nature. Sounds idyllic, right? Unfortunately, practicalities make it a distant dream for now.

Sharing a living space with two others means quiet is a rare commodity even in my own space. Conversations, TV chatter, and the everyday hum of a household create a constant background noise which can be suffocating. Even my go-to wildlife photography retreats in local parks lost their serenity, swallowed by a growing tide of noise and activity.

And that's where the Big Skies series comes in. Each stroke of pastel is my way of breathing in fresh air, of looking beyond the confines of my immediate surroundings. The paintings, characterized by expansive skies and minimal horizons, embody my desire to escape, to be somewhere else – UP THERE.

In a world where finding peace means a long drive  to the few remaining quiet spots, looking up at the sky became my readily available escape. The canvas became a sanctuary, a reminder that, even in the midst of chaos, the sky remains untouched, its hues ever-changing and its expanse limitless.
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The Big Skies series of work is a peek into my personal pursuit of freedom, a journey reflected in strokes of pastel which go beyond the paper. It's a personal exploration, a reminder that we all yearn for a moment of respite, and sometimes, all it takes is a gaze at the vastness above.

View The Series Here