Midnight Cabernet

“Midnight Cabernet” was an artistic challenge to create a gray-scale composition. I have always admired the shadows, details and textures captured in my father’s black-and-white photography. His painstakingly produced gelatin silver prints inspired me to incorporate silver metallic details into my otherwise black-and-white composition of a Cabernet Sauvignon leaf. When viewed in the right lighting, these silver highlights are reflected, adding another dimension of depth to the composition. 
 
I usually begin my pieces with a wash of bright colors...but for this composition I started with a black canvas. This actually led to a very inspiring process of finding light in the darkness.  I loved how details emerged from the blackness of the canvas as my brush illuminated them. As I worked, I reflected on how important it has been to bring hope and light into the “darkness” of the ongoing pandemic.
 
I also thought of some of the “dark” periods in my life and how scripture has been a light to me during those times. Psalms 139:11-12 says this about the presence of God: “If I say “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”