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I’m thrilled to share that my painting, Emerging into the Light, was selected to be the commemorative poster artwork for the 50th Anniversary Mainsail Art Festival!
This piece—depicting the sun rising from behind storm clouds over the St. Petersburg Pier—was showcased on the festival’s official merchandise and posters for this milestone event April 5 & 6 at Vinoy Park in Downtown St. Pete.
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The Inspiration Behind Emerging into the Light
To me, a sunrise symbolizes renewal, and the promise of new beginnings. After the challenges our community faced from the hurricanes of 2024, I envisioned a dramatic, powerful scene depicting a moment of transition when storm clouds begin receding, revealing the sun and its golden light washing over the city.
The Process
One of the biggest challenges in creating this painting was settling on the perfect vantage point. I wanted a high perspective that captured both the vibrancy of the city and the lush green foliage below. I pored over video footage, gathered reference photos from friends in high-rise condos, and combined elements from my plein air color studies at sunrise.
From there, I built a scene that blended my sketches, color studies, and a palette of soft warms and cools to evoke a dreamy, atmospheric quality. The twinkling city lights, the movement of the clouds, the hazy glow—it all comes together to create a sense of awakening and renewal under the nurturing light of the sun.
Purchase a print of this painting here.
Explore More Inspirations...
Check out another custom installation here for a luxury condo designed by Interior Designer, Julianne Hendrickson.
Read about the fun and serendipitous journey of finding art this collector and her interior designer had here.
