Artist Statement

This piece has moved through many iterations, carrying the history of what came before it within its surface. Layered repeatedly with acrylic and texture paste, Rise Up holds the marks of revision, return, and persistence.

When the final direction emerged, it did so as an abstract sunset—an image I continue to be drawn to for its quiet power. Sunsets feel like nature’s own palatte, a reminder of God’s artistry at work. Though they arrive at the close of day, they carry an unexpected sense of hope and renewal rather than finality.

In this painting, color and texture gather around that moment of transition. What might appear as an ending becomes a place of reflection, rest, and gentle encouragement. Rise Up is an offering of that feeling—the reassurance that light persists, and that each close holds the possibility of beginning again.