Currently on Exhibition at the Creative Arts Center. Purchase must be made through the Center while on Exhibition.

Night’s Embrace of Drum and Dance is an 18 by 24-inch gouache painting that draws you into a vivid nocturnal landscape alive with ritual and movement. In this piece, I depict a grassy, rolling hillside under the full moon, its silvery light casting subtle illumination across the scene. The night sky, animated with swirling patterns, creates a dynamic backdrop that feels both expansive and intimate.

The foreground centers on three figures engaged in a rhythmical ceremony around a blazing campfire. Two dancers stand tall, one dressed in red and the other in pink. Their raised arms and flowing dresses capture expressive gestures that convey the energy and joy of the moment. A third figure, seated and clad in red, plays a drum, offering the heartbeat that drives the dance forward. Surrounding stones, including tall standing monoliths reminiscent of ancient stone circles, anchor the scene with a sense of timelessness and sacredness.

This artwork continues my exploration of indigenous and contemporary cultural rituals, inspired specifically by equinox festivals held at prehistoric standing stones. These gatherings celebrate the delicate balance between light and darkness during spring and autumn equinoxes, and often feature music, dance, and storytelling as forms of communal reflection and renewal. I wanted this painting to embody that spirit—a lively testament to the cycles of nature and the power of shared experience.

Working in gouache on black mixed media paper offered unique challenges and opportunities. The dark surface deepened the contrasts and enriched the glow of moonlight and fire, allowing me to layer brushstrokes for added texture and vibrancy. The larger format of this piece gave me room to develop the distant landscape with greater detail, enhancing the sense of place and atmosphere. Compared to the smaller study in my sketchbook titled Drums of Light at Dusk, this final work feels more expansive and immersive while maintaining a strong emotional core.

Night’s Embrace of Drum and Dance is not just a scene but a moment lived—filled with motion, sound, and light. It speaks to the enduring human impulse to connect through ritual, to mark time through celebration, and to find meaning at the intersection of earth and sky. Through this painting, I invite viewers to witness and feel the sacred pulse that carries us through the cycles of night and day, dance and drum.