Contemplation by the Fireside (2023)

28.6 x 23.8 | Oil on Canvas

This piece is quieter. Contemplation by the Fireside is a self-portrait of me sitting by a fire with my cats, surrounded by a sense of warmth and safety -- my comfort zone. Outside the window is total darkness. I wanted to paint the feeling of choosing comfort while knowing, privately, that the outside world is bleak. It’s not about guilt, but more so about the small tension that sits inside rest: “Am I allowed to feel okay right now?” There’s protection, and there’s an edge under it. I like holding both in one frame.