Light & Shadow 2 — Confound
Foundations Collection
2018
"An exploration of ambiguity, expression, and the stories we create when a moment is left unresolved. "
The Question
What did he see?
Who did he see?
And perhaps more importantly—
What do you imagine happened next?
About the Work
A single expression can suggest an entire story.
In Light & Shadow 2 — Confound, I wanted to capture the moment before the answer is revealed.
The figure’s expression gives us a clue, but never tells us exactly what he has seen or what has caused his reaction. Instead, the painting leaves the moment open.
Inspired by Jean Valjean, the central character of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, the work continues my exploration of expression, character, and the dramatic relationship between light and shadow.
Rather than providing a conclusion, I wanted to leave space for the viewer to create one.
A painting can preserve a fraction of a second forever. But what happens before and after that moment belongs to our imagination.
Perhaps he has seen something unexpected.
Perhaps something has just been revealed.
Or perhaps the story you imagine is completely different.
That uncertainty is part of the work.
Looking Closely
The expression
A fleeting reaction captured before we know its cause.
The direction of the gaze
Where is he looking—and what might be waiting beyond the frame?
The light and shadow
The contrast heightens the sense of drama while concealing as much as it reveals.
The unfinished story
The painting gives us a moment, but leaves the resolution to the viewer.
From the Studio
Every painting teaches me something I wasn’t expecting.
While working on Confound, I became interested in how little information we actually need to begin creating a story.
A glance.
A gesture.
An expression.
From these small details, our minds naturally begin filling in what we cannot see.
That is one of the things I love about painting.
The artist can capture a moment, but the viewer brings their own imagination, experiences, and interpretations to it.
Perhaps two people can stand in front of the same painting and see two entirely different stories.
There doesn’t necessarily need to be one correct answer.
Sometimes the mystery is the answer.
Pause & Reflect
What do you think he has just seen?
Where does his gaze lead you beyond the frame?
What story did you create in your mind before knowing the answer?
Within the Collection
Light & Shadow 2 — Confound belongs to the Foundations Collection, a body of work created during an important period of artistic development.
These paintings document the years in which I was developing my understanding of portraiture, observation, light, and craftsmanship while exploring the subjects and ideas that naturally captured my curiosity.
Confound is the second work in the Light & Shadow series, following Light & Shadow, and continues the exploration of how dramatic lighting can shape not only what we see, but what we imagine.
Together, the works explore the relationship between light and darkness, visibility and concealment, expression and interpretation.
Studio Notes
2019
Oil on Canvas
16 × 20 in. (50.8 × 40.6 cm)
Series
Light & Shadow — No. 2
Subject
Jean Valjean, Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Availability
Available
$10,000
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Acquisition
Interested in making Light & Shadow 2 — Confound part of your collection?
For acquisition inquiries, please contact the studio.