Icarus I, Oil on Canvas (80 x 100), 2023. The first oil painting I did features a handful of my friends, enjoying an evening in the back of a motorhome. I wanted the painting to have an interesting dynamic and interaction between the people depicted, but also a warm tone tying the space together.

I used a lot of dark aquamarine to turquoise tones in contrast to the warm hue of the wood. The similar green tones should symbolize the harmonious energy we were feeling at this moment. The title Icarus refers to the myth of Daedalus and Icarus. I chose it because to me a friendship can be extremely uplifting, like the wings of Icarus. At the same time, it is often a delicate balance to uphold.

The reference for the painting was a composited photograph that I made. The painting was made using mainly glazing with transparents.