Contemplating Spirituality in New Paintings
Candle Study III, 2025, 14 × 11 in, Acrylic and stain on wood panel
Although I have been thinking heavily about magical objects the last few months—like the candle and mirror…
I didn’t realize until this last painting how much of my thoughts on spirituality have been creeping into my paintings.
These candle studies started as a break for me to specifically work on fear and perfectionism within my practice, which often prevent me from picking up a brush. Even though the focus of these pieces has been to give myself permission to just create, or act on any thought that comes up—these works are heavily subconscious-based and the finished pieces have been surprising me.
Especially after the first two, I wasn’t expecting Candle Study III to remind me so much of the Jesus paint-by-numbers my grandpa Bob had in his trailer home—which was one of the only things I knew him by.
With the intent to explore movement, it was a surprise to reflect on the hand in the mirror feeling so much more a like a deity.
I am currently working on Candle Study IV. I am stopping myself at six before I go back to working on my show My Other Half. These candle studies are based off a painting I am already working on for this show, which is set next to my ancestor altar. I am looking forward to extending the feeling of magic and spirituality to the borders this new exhibition.
