This small painting is a deeply layered work that chronicles a journey toward healing, directly inspired by painful memories associated with the "Big Sky of Ohio." The lower half of the composition is saturated with black, representing the difficult times that the artist intentionally covered up through the work's "numerous journeys" (layers of paint). In stark contrast, a purposeful, sharp line marks a "new beginning," separating the darkness from the upper section. This upper area is lighter, rendered in a smoky, ethereal style that suggests "clouds when they break apart" and the return of sunshine, symbolizing light coming back into a painful space. The minimalist black-and-white palette reinforces the concept that memories are often processed in sharp relief, existing "before the color" or return to full happiness.
This small painting is a deeply layered work that chronicles a journey toward healing, directly inspired by painful memories associated with the "Big Sky of Ohio." The lower half of the composition is saturated with black, representing the difficult times that the artist intentionally covered up through the work's "numerous journeys" (layers of paint). In stark contrast, a purposeful, sharp line marks a "new beginning," separating the darkness from the upper section. This upper area is lighter, rendered in a smoky, ethereal style that suggests "clouds when they break apart" and the return of sunshine, symbolizing light coming back into a painful space. The minimalist black-and-white palette reinforces the concept that memories are often processed in sharp relief, existing "before the color" or return to full happiness.
