Summer Storms

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As I write, we are on the heels of yet another stormy summer night. It's been like this for months. The lightning, rain, drizzle... My partner hates it. He feels like the summer hasn't been hot or dry enough to be a real summer. I, however, don't mind this weather. Rain feels exciting to me, and the sky is constantly changing. Especially on days like this, where the sunset burns through rainclouds to light up white buildings and turn them bright yellow.

That's what I find so interesting about an active sky: everything is in motion, even when it is still. Shadows make the bushes turn blue-purple, where 2 hours ago they were a hot amber gold. The rain soaks the ground, and turns it dark. The hot sun dries it up, and it becomes pastel. And in one moment, lighting makes the whole scene sparkle. I am mesmerized.

So - we have come to the inspiration for this painting. I took many reference photos, beaming up at the sky on an evening after a storm. I remember walking along the canal and stopping every 10 feet to take more photos, because the sky kept changing, and each new configuration blew my little artist mind more than the last.

The photo I chose to paint, in the end, is this one with the white buildings glowing yellow from the sun. When the sun is low, it becomes more and more golden - and yes everything looks fabulous, but that's not the only striking aspect of this scene. The storm clouds are SO dark sitting right above the water, they give the viewer the pleasure of high contrast. This degree of contrast may have lasted for only 2 minutes if I had not captured it. The way I painted it reflects the way I experienced it, which I wanted to show to you.

So here it is: the forces of nature have brought us this oil painting. May summer sunsets (stormy or not) continue to inspire us all. :)

Summer Storms - 2026