“Zwischen” (German for “between”) took a little over 40 days to complete. It came out of a difficult season where I found myself in between a breakdown of hopes and dreams, and the establishment of new ones.

I wanted a visual reminder of the beauty of the in-between; Zwischen illustrates the opportunity we’re given in these in-between seasons to practice the acceptance of our present circumstances—consenting to the uncomfortable limbo, and allowing it to prepare us for whatever comes next. Most of the time in these moments, I pour mental and emotional energy into trying everything I can to control my future or undo the past.

Zwischen invites us to stop. The painting’s landscape appears to have just been buzzing and foaming, but now, for a moment, has frozen in time. It

Using

crushed minerals like Onyx and even Silver with my paint pigments, which makes the paintings sparkle if you’re willing to slow down long enough to notice it.

That’s the work of acceptance: slowing down long enough to see the beauty where you are…rather than trying to jump to the future, or change the past.