The task of a high school term paper first sparked my curiosity about the crepuscular qualities of life. I’ve been interested in bioluminescence, my chosen subject for that assignment, ever since. Only many years later, in 2012, when I first marked several green-orange flecks onto a canvas painted on-site in the early dusk, did fireflies enter the annual accumulative cycle of my painting.
Their appearance that evening coincided with the close attention I paid to a ragged field marked by signs of deer and fox. Fireflies had circled me at other times, in other fields and meadows. But on this evening, there was something inevitable and thrilling about the fireflies’ emergence in the dim light. Their transmitted signals pricked the inked spires of the spruces and rose to mingle with the stars, held in the unusual shapes the trees cut against the deep cobalt sky.
What prompted me to include the fireflies that night, I can’t say. What I do know is that the wonder of the firefly carries the observed, empirical qualities of my paintings into an ecstatic realm, one I might not have otherwise accessed.
I paint three or four canvases each season. My annual engagement at various scales and shapes follows the total lifespan (about four weeks) of that generation of firefly. Painting, after all, is especially well suited to representing both ceasing and becoming.
"Orion Mists and Fireflies No. 1," 36 x 42 inches
"Summer Night, Fireflies, Mists, and Vapors III," 2023, 16 x 20 inches
"Wild Summer Night, Lights, Mists, Vapors, and Fireflies," 16 x 20 inches
"Summer Night, Fireflies, Mists, and Vapors II," 16 x 20 inches
"June Firefly I," 16 x 20 inches
"June Firefly II," 16 x 20 inches
"June Firefly III," 16 x 20 inches
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Abstract painting with swirling colors of purple, blue, green, yellow, black, white, and hints of orange and pink, resembling a night sky and landscape.
An impressionist-style landscape painting of a mountain scene with a dark green forest, a bright blue sky, a snowy mountain peak, and a field of small white flowers in the foreground.
A dark, impressionistic landscape with a cloudy sky, tall trees, and glowing orbs of light scattered throughout, with a reflection of the scene in water at the bottom.
A painting depicting a night scene with dark trees and a cloudy sky, illuminated by glowing fireflies scattered across the scene.
Abstract painting featuring swirling colors of purple, blue, yellow, and white with circular shapes and electric-like yellow lines.
An impressionist painting of a night sky with swirling dark blue and purple hues, scattered with yellow and white glowing orbs resembling stars or fireflies, and soft pink and purple tones at the bottom.
Impressionist painting of a night sky with stars and swirling clouds in shades of purple, black, and green, reminiscent of Van Gogh's 'Starry Night'.
An impressionist painting depicting a night scene with a starry sky and a moonlit landscape, showcasing swirling light and vibrant colors.
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A night sky filled with swirling, glowing stars and celestial patterns, painted in shades of purple, blue, green, and white.
A painting of a starry night sky with swirling clouds and bright stars, reminiscent of Vincent van Gogh's style.
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An abstract painting with black, blue, and purple brushstrokes, accented by small yellow and orange dots scattered across the canvas.
Abstract painting with dark blues, purples, black, green, and some light green and white dots and streaks.
A painting of a dark, abstract landscape with swirling brushstrokes and scattered small yellow and white dots.
An abstract painting featuring dark blues, purples, and greens with small white dots scattered across the surface.
Abstract painting with dark green, purple, and black colors, featuring bright yellow dots, streaks, and shapes resembling a nocturnal landscape or forest scene.
A painting depicting a night sky filled with stars, dark clouds, and a hint of the moon, inspired by Vincent van Gogh's style.
A painting of a dark, starry night with blooming flowers in the foreground and a cloudy sky.
A painting of a dark forest scene illuminated by fireflies, with a small body of water reflecting the light at the bottom.
Abstract painting with dark, textured brushstrokes, white and blue accents, and small orange dots scattered throughout.
An abstract painting of a night scene with dark trees, light reflections on water, and bright spots resembling stars or fireflies.
An abstract painting with swirling brushstrokes in dark green, purple, yellow, and light pink, featuring glowing yellow-green spots throughout.
Abstract painting with shades of purple, pink, black, green, and yellow, featuring broad brushstrokes and scattered yellow and white dots.
An abstract painting with dark green and black trees, a bright blue sky with white and gray clouds, and a reflective water scene at the bottom.
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Abstract painting with various shades of blue, green, white, and black brushstrokes, with small yellow dots scattered throughout.