Gilded Awakening

Gilded Awakening serves as the crescendo of this collection. It is a study of that breathtaking moment when the sky finally breaks open, casting a golden light over the landscape and signaling a complete transition into the new day.

In this piece, I wanted to capture the "Fantastic Reality" of a Northern Michigan sunrise—where the deep, heavy blues of the night are being swept away by vibrant ambers and soft violets. The reflection in the water represents a world that is now wide awake and fully reimagined. It’s a reminder that no matter how long the shadows may seem, the light eventually finds its way back to us, more brilliant than before.