Sugar Nocturnes:

Each work in the Sugar Nocturnes series is first developed as a brunaille— a monochromatic underpainting built from warm earth tones that establish the structure, value, and atmosphere of the final painting. Throughout July and August, prints of these foundations are on view while the final layers of oil paint are applied.

Much like the quiet rituals that shape our lives, the most important work happens before an artwork is fully seen; gardens are tended long before they bloom, friendships are built one conversation at a time, and homes become places of belonging through countless ordinary acts of care. Likewise, every finished painting begins with patient, unseen layers.

As both an artist and an educator, I believe the rituals we practice shape the people we become. In my classroom, I encourage students to build habits of observation, curiosity, and craftsmanship—not simply to become better artists, but to become more attentive to the world around them. My paintings are an extension of that same belief: that a meaningful life is cultivated through small acts of care, practiced over time.

Inspired by the dramatic light of Baroque painting and the intimacy of Dutch still lifes, Sugar Nocturnes explore the beauty found in familiar rituals: gathering flowers, sharing sweets, setting a table, and making time for one another. These ordinary moments become symbols of hospitality, generosity, and the simple pleasures that define a meaningful life.

I hope that these paintings do more than preserve beautiful moments— they encourage them. If they inspire someone to gather flowers from the garden or the farmer’s market, stop into the local candy shop, linger over local coffee, or make room for beauty in the rhythms of daily life, then they have fulfilled their purpose.

Thank you for being part of this collection’s first chapter. Follow along on my Instagram as the final layers of oil paint are added this month. They will be varnished, framed, and ready to ship in early fall.