Winter 2026 Collection
Imbolc: Returning Light
Inspiration
Imbolc is a Pagan festival rooted in Celtic traditions and celebrated around February 1. It marks the midway point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Imbolc’s themes include purification, the return of light, and signs that Earth will soon awake. Imbolc means “in the belly” — a time to appreciate the end of winter knowing that spring will soon be born.
With the six paintings in this collection, I meditated on these themes of late winter / the eve of Spring, hopefulness, and light emerging from dark.
Paintings:
Angelfire
This painting is of a classic New Mexico chamisa in winter snow. The light was catching the plant in a way that reminded me of the “burning bush.” I call it Angelfire because I took the photo in the town of Angel Fire, New Mexico, and the experience of seeing it felt spiritually inspiring.
Blanket
This painting is of a prickly pear cactus blanketed in winter snow. I saw this cactus on a particularly snowy day in the Sandia Mountains. It’s such a large cactus that it must have survived winters in the past. I hope it’s enjoying its rest.
Imbolc
The inspiration for this series was a stunning day in Angel Fire, New Mexico, with the winter sun forming a triangle of light and shadow on the ground. Imbolc is a time when we are surrounded by dark but light is beginning to return. I will never tire of looking at shadow and light on freshly fallen snow.
Peak
Peak was inspired by a beautiful hike in Southern Colorado, near Silverton. I loved the symmetry of these mountains and the ethereal shades of the clouds above them.
Return
“Return” is my most abstracted piece in the series, or the most different from photo to painting. I wanted to convey the journey from Winter into Spring, while appreciating the loveliness of each. I love how the warm pink and orange of the background pulls me forward.
Skyward
Skyward carries a beautiful memory for me of hiking up a mountain in Southern Colorado. My husband and I didn’t reach the top, and in fact he turned me around when the altitude made me a little extra silly. But before I turned around, I caught one last look at this path leading up towards the heavens.
