Description
At the end of 2020, my partner and I left Auckland in search of peace. We moved to Nelson — the sunniest place in New Zealand — hoping that its warmth and quiet would help us heal from the noise and strain of city life.
But when I picked up my brush, the golden light I expected to paint didn’t come through. Instead, Sunny Nelson emerged in greys and silvers — figures walking through rain, faces half-hidden by masks, a city softened into quiet reflections. At first, I thought I’d failed to capture the spirit of this place, and had just gotten too close to one of my cityscape influences Jacob Dhein.
Now I see it differently. In the rain, the world mirrors itself. Light becomes textured, layered — and in that reflection, something deeper is revealed. This painting isn’t just about a town in a pandemic — it’s about how change feels when you’re still carrying your past.
Even in the downpour, there’s movement. There’s light and life. And maybe that’s where real healing begins – wherever you are.
