This is one of my favorite paintings. It’s the lighthouse a few miles down from our cabin in Northern Michigan. I love the history of lighthouses, lighting the dark to keep those on the water safe. I imagine a simple life living there. It makes me kind of sad they are all automated now and its a way of life that’s part of the past. This painting hangs in the main stairwell in the lighthouse and I’m so honored to have it there <3

This was inspired by the best weekend in my late twenties. Spent the weekend by myself in NYC. Went to Ellis Island and found my Grandparents names. Saw Ground Zero before anything had been built there. Had a crazy encounter with Tom Cruise. Lost my phone and made a scene in the Times Square Verizon when they wouldn't give me a new one because I was out of state. Used the most disgusting payphone ever to call Jason after not having checked in with him for hours. Was amazed how long you could be on the Subway and then get out and still be in bustling NYC. Hot Dogs in Central Park. Smoking cigarettes and reading the bible in my hotel room. 😂

I had just started reading it and was fascinated. In the morning and at night I would sit there chain smoking and reading. I so clearly remember sitting on that hotel bed, the buildings out my window, and an overflowing ashtray on the nightstand lol.

I have never been to Paris, but I hope to one day!

I went to Italy for one week when I graduated from college. The Roman ruins at night really burned in my memories for years and at the time of painting this. This old blog post explains everything behind it.