Between Beginnings
Between Beginnings is an ongoing series of oil paintings inspired by the mystical writings of Novalis, the 18th-century German Romantic poet. His work explores the human-nature relationship, suggesting that romanticizing nature can inspire care, respect, and harmony with the living world. Through themes of renewal, restoration, and divine encounter, Novalis portrays nature as a microcosm of the universe, continually reflecting and speaking to human existence.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Canada Council for the Arts for supporting this project.
To Beauty Hidden, 2024, diptych, 40”x52”, oil on linen
Fieldwork & Small Studies
Among the reference images collected, those depicting public parks and gardens resonated most strongly. These cultivated environments, where nature is intentionally shaped to evoke a sense of beauty and order, embody the dialogue between the organic and the constructed. Conceived as spaces for contemplation and visual appreciation, they became a central influence—informing a series of small studies and ultimately serving as the backdrop for the large-scale works in this series.
Process Continued
After creating several small-scale works, I began developing compositions for the larger pieces. Using a Payne’s grey backdrop, I explored the contrast between monochromatic and chromatic areas. Photographs of the initial layers served as a foundation in Procreate, allowing me to experiment with layering shapes, inverting and mirroring imagery, and testing different colour palettes.










Final Works & Selected Poetry
Nature as a You, 2024, diptych, 32”x 32”x 2, oil on canvas
“The Bible begins with Paradise, it ends with the end of the world - yet in every leaf of nature a revelation is inscribed.”
- Novalis, Blüthenstaub, 1798
Restoration I, 2024, 20"x20", oil on canvas, "Alles Leben ist ein überschwänglicher Erneuerungsproceß.." "All life is an exuberant process of renewal..." -Novalis, Die Christenheit oder Europa, 1799
To Beauty Hidden, 2024, diptych, 40"x52", oil on linen, “The world must be romanticized. Through this, we recover its original sense. To romanticize is to elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary — to endow the commonplace with mystery, the known with the dignity of the unknown, and the finite with the light of the infinite.” -Novalis, Fragmente und Studien, 1798
Restoration II, 2024, 20"x20", oil on canvas, "The forests sing softly their eternal litany, and he who listens understands the breath of God." -Novalis, Geistliche Lieder, 1790-1797
Nature as a You (right side), 2024, 32"x32", oil on canvas, "In the forest, I find the chapel of my heart, the branches carry my longing upward." -Novalis, Blüthenstaub, 1798
Nature as a You (left side), 2024, 32"x32", oil on canvas, "As roots of trees reach deep into the earth, so should love root itself in the soul." -Novalis, Glauben und Liebe, 1798-1799