Resurgence
Medium: Oil on gallery wood panel
Size: 18″ x 24″ x 1.5″
Year of Creation: 2023
Artwork Availability: Available
Resurgence is part of my Waterworks series.
This painting captures a powerful and intimate moment — a man emerging from the water, caught between motion and stillness. The play of light and water emphasizes his strength and determination, but there’s also vulnerability in his expression, as if he’s confronting more than just the waves.
When I created this piece, I wasn’t just painting a figure in water — I was channeling a sense of inner strength rising from emotional turbulence. The crashing waves became a metaphor for life’s challenges, while his focused gaze reflected a will to overcome them. I was inspired by the timeless symbolism of water — rebirth, cleansing, resilience — and wanted to show that beauty and power can emerge from struggle.
Painting the water was both meditative and challenging. I let the energy of the brushstrokes mimic the crashing surf, while softening areas around his face to draw attention to his inner world. The result became a portrait of emotional depth, not just physical presence.
This painting was made with oil paints on a cradled wood panel, which does not require framing, as the sides are painted.
