My “Sun” series is very much inspired by the mid-century designer Alexander Girard, whose iconic smiling brass sun disk brightens up the wall at the nearby Compound restaurant, the interior of which he designed in its entirety in the 1960’s.

The Suns also pay tribute to some of my favorite light artists like James Turrell and Dan Flavin, who masterfully manipulate the interplay of light and color in ways that surprise and delight. The side of each “Ray” on my Suns is always painted or metal leafed such that a reflective gradient is created as the distance between the rays increases towards their tip. They come to life and constantly change as you move around them!

This cheerful sun features bright lemon yellow paint on one side of each ray, and rich goldenrod ochre yellow on the opposing surface, a combination that is sure to imbue your home with the warm and cheerful radiance of the Santa Fe Sun. This very Sun is featured prominently in the studio photo I shot for Jane Smith’s book Santa Fe Sense of Place.

11.25” x 11.25” Wood, Gesso, Acrylic. 2021