11″ by 15″, Watercolors and ink
To capture light with a painting is an incredible thing. This, to me, is why the work of Johannes Vermeer is so beautiful. The frequency of pearls in his work, vessels of soft luminance, embody the women that wear them. In the famous Girl with a Pearl Earring, the girl seems surprised that the light decided to make her shine like her ornament. I sought to combine the penwork of ornithological art with this capturing of light in my watercolor work, Barn Owl with Moonflowers. The moonlight, which is manifested in the pale flowers, fully shines on the barn owl’s captivating features. I hoped, through this work, to combine style with light in order to reveal nature as something bathed in enchantment and glory.