“Ghosts”

$195

Acrylic on 8” x 10” x .5” canvas, ready to hang with image-wrapped edges and a black wood frame.

An abstract painting of a large tree with a brown trunk and green leaves, set against a background that transitions from dark purple on the left to bright yellow and orange on the right. The roots of the tree extend into a green landscape at the bottom, with swirling blue and green patterns.

After painting several abstract portraits, I began wondering if I could create the same face without painting a face at all.

I loved the colors I had used in Jo's Sunset and Sunrise Over Two Harbors, so I challenged myself to create a nature-inspired image that would gradually reveal another portrait. My goal wasn't to hide the face completely, but to reward the viewer who spends a little more time with the painting.

As I worked, another idea began to take shape. A simple figure on a swing felt more intriguing than another sun or abstract form. I intentionally kept the figure soft and ethereal, leaving it somewhere between memory and presence. Is it a child? A ghost? A recollection? I never answered those questions, and I don't think the painting needs me to.

Perhaps that's why the title Ghosts felt right. We all carry memories, people, and moments that continue to shape us long after they're gone. Like the hidden face within the landscape, they aren't always obvious—but they're still there if we take the time to look.

Colorful painting of a tree with green leaves against a vibrant background transitioning from purple to yellow and blue. The tree has a thick trunk with roots extending downwards, and a background with swirling patterns suggestive of a sunset or sunrise.
Colorful abstract painting of a tree with a bright yellow sun in the background, framed in black, hanging on a white wall.
Photograph of four small colorful paintings, three framed and one unframed, displayed on a wall above a wooden surface. The paintings feature abstract and surreal themes, including a face with tentacle-like hair, a tree with a bright sun, stylized eyes, and a woman's face.