Lustrous Lull

The photo reference for this painting was taken pre-pandemic, in the "before times", which feel like a different world than the one we currently inhabit. But I realized that in that busier time, even as I rushed to an appointment in an unfamiliar part of town, my eye was still caught by this brilliant alleyway - a "Lustrous Lull" if you will. After my appointment, I diverted my way down the alley and took several photos. I was delighted by the textures of the brick and rusting pipes next to the pristine red and sharp shadows. A composition formed for my wandering eye, and one I had so much fun painting more than a year later when I needed a reminder of what life was and perhaps could be again - full of opportunities to find wonder and unexpected marvels in the course of a busy day.