This painting was inspired by the Missouri Botanical Garden’s 2023 Chihuly exhibition, where world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly transformed the landscape with luminous, otherworldly installations. The boat and floating glass orbs depicted here are part of his signature style—vibrant, intricate, and dreamlike.
When I first captured the reference photo, I remember thinking, “Why am I taking so many pictures today? I probably won’t use them.” Yet nearly two years later, while sifting through thousands of images, this moment stopped me. The rich colors, the quiet reflections, and the joyful surrealism of the floating spheres called me back with new urgency. I knew immediately: this was meant to be painted.
This piece is a celebration of unexpected beauty—of light on water, art in nature, and the quiet pull of inspiration that sometimes waits years before returning.