Glimpse of Sanctuary Oil

I present a large original oil painting on professional gessoed board and framed with brushed pewter.

As with most of my works I would call this a contemporary expressionistic landscape. This painting evolved as I painted. I started based on the memory of moments I know well — standing high on the moor in a squall, cold and exposed, and catching sight of the valley below suddenly lit up as the storm passes through. That quality of light is like nothing else. The fields flare green and gold, vivid against the dark sky, and for a second the whole valley feels like it's been chosen.

The foreground stays in shadow — you're still up on the rock, still in it — but you can see where you're heading. That gap between exposure and shelter is where I wanted to be.

The paint is built up thickly throughout. I wanted the sky to feel heavy and the light to feel earned. It changes depending on where you stand in the room. I love this piece and hope you do too.