Silent Watcher
Silent Watcher measures 12 by 18 inches and is executed in gouache on black multimedia paper, offering a departure from my recent Texas Landscapes series by shifting focus from expansive vistas to an intimate moment grounded in quiet observation.
This piece centers on the dark silhouette of a cat, seated in the foreground, gazing out over a dense, textured scene of tall grasses and leafy plants. The vegetation is rendered in layered shades of green and yellow, carefully balanced to evoke both vibrancy and shadow. Behind this foreground, trees with brown trunks and deep green foliage rise subtly, contributing depth without distracting from the stillness of the scene. The black paper serves as the foundation, allowing light and color to emerge almost as whispers against the dark, enhancing the mood of contemplative quiet that permeates the work.
The inspiration for Silent Watcher came from a photograph shared by my friend Lori Baham. The image captured more than just a landscape; it captured a feeling—that threshold between watchfulness and calm—a companionable stillness that invited me to explore how a small figure might anchor a wild, verdant space.
The shift from the wide-open canyons of Big Bend to the quiet, enclosed rhythm of the grass is more than just a change in scenery—it’s a change in temperature. While my studio has recently been immersed in the fiery ochres and dusty violets of the Texas Landscapes series, this work led me toward deep teals and emeralds, drawing me into a different world.
Working with gouache on black paper guided much of the process. Beginning with broad, moody washes of teal and dark green, I built the scene from the shadows upward. The black of the paper provides the structure—the “bones” of the forest—while the paint layers rise to catch the light delicately, as if revealing a secret. Adding acidic yellow highlights introduced a fleeting golden-hour quality to the grasses, creating tension between brightness and the quiet weight of shadow.
The cat’s silhouette functions as a steady presence amid the dynamic brushwork. Unlike my wider landscape compositions, this piece feels like a portrait of a precise moment: still, observant, textured. It reflects a close encounter with nature’s subtle rhythms rather than its grand vistas.
Silent Watcher occupies a unique space in my ongoing exploration of place, mood, and scale. By compressing a complex environment into a focused study of light, shadow, and form, it reveals the quiet intensity found in an ordinary, overlooked moment. Through both process and subject, this work underscores how companionship and attentiveness shape our perception of home and wildness alike.
