Dark and Moody

I have been painting my apartment over the past few weeks which has involved emptying out storage spaces and re-discovering artwork from the past. This group of paintings is from a period of my work that I am particularly fond of. These interiors and landscapes were painted at a painful time in my life coming at the end of a series of personal losses. As haunting as they now seem, at the time they were a source of great comfort to me, depicting places in which I had been tremendously happy.  Several of them such as the Scottish landscapes and the spiral staircase have been hanging on my walls framed for years and remain truly close to my heart. Some of the smaller ones however had been in storage and I have been so happy to pull them out and hang them along with the others. Each one is like a visual diary entry and has been part of a fascinating journey for me through the past. 

This is one of a series of many drawings and paintings of staircases that continued over the course of nearly a decade.

This is one of a series of many drawings and paintings of staircases that continued over the course of nearly a decade.

This staircase is from the building in which I lived when I was an au pair in Versailles, one of the happiest times of my life.

This staircase is from the building in which I lived when I was an au pair in Versailles, one of the happiest times of my life.

This is one of many landscapes I did of Glen Coe on a wonderful road trip through Scotland.

This is one of many landscapes I did of Glen Coe on a wonderful road trip through Scotland.

This is also of Glen Coe, one of the moodiest and breathtakingly beautiful places I have ever traveled through.

This is also of Glen Coe, one of the moodiest and breathtakingly beautiful places I have ever traveled through.

This is one of a series of painting I did during one of my visits to Venice, which remains for me the Queen of all cities.

This is one of a series of painting I did during one of my visits to Venice, which remains for me the Queen of all cities.

I have endless sketches and photographs of the canals in Venice. Their dark, mysterious depths fill me with wonder.

I have endless sketches and photographs of the canals in Venice. Their dark, mysterious depths fill me with wonder.

I particularly like the stairs along the Venetian canals that seem to lead nowhere when the tide is low.

I particularly like the stairs along the Venetian canals that seem to lead nowhere when the tide is low.

The worn, architectural details are everywhere.

The worn, architectural details are everywhere.

Who can resist these gateways into darkness and mystery?

Who can resist these gateways into darkness and mystery?