Prelude to Dawn

2024
24″ x 16″ x 1.75″ (felt on canvas)
Status: Split Rock Lighthouse Exhibit
October 1 – November 10, 2024

Inspired by a stunning sunrise near the end of the Gunflint Trail in early November 2021. Like many of my pieces, the sky’s vibrant colors starkly contrast a shadowed Northwoods treeline. Each tree species is created using different needles and techniques, and this piece includes multiple shades of black at various depths.

When the Sun is close to the horizon, light has to travel longer distances in the atmosphere, scattering all but the longest wavelengths of light and causing pink, orange, and red to be reflected off the clouds. The additional purple sky in this piece was caused by the wispy pink clouds appearing in front of the blue sky.