This is a painting of my friend Maddie. With the interactions of the light and shadow regions, I tried to contrast saturated and muted tones, as well as tighter and looser brushstrokes.

The title "emergence" refers to a physical emergence from dark to light, and from the depths of nature to the bustle of society. But it also encompasses an internal emergence of Maddie herself – she is incredibly shy, but given time and warmth, departs from her shell. I wanted to capture this personal intimacy in this piece.