20” x 44” x 2

Encaustic with Hemp, Twine, Crystals, Iron Ore Shavings, and Gold Leaf | 2025

Created as a custom commission for a devoted collector, Peace, Love, Joy, and Happiness reimagines the original vertical painting Peace, Love, and Joy into a horizontal format designed to harmonize with its placement above a brick fireplace. This piece exudes warmth and richness, perfectly complementing the natural textures and tones of its environment.

The encaustic wax, layered with depth and nuance, brings the painting to life, creating a sense of movement and energy. The addition of hemp, twine, crystals, iron ore shavings, and gold leaf infuses the work with tactile elegance, symbolizing the interconnectedness of Earth’s natural elements and the preciousness of human emotion. Each material carries meaning—gold leaf evokes the divine light of happiness, while the raw, organic textures of hemp and twine represent grounding and unity.

The composition is a celebration of vibrant color and texture, elements the collectors cherish, with the bold encaustic wax offering an irresistible richness against the rustic fireplace setting. The crystals embedded within the piece catch the light, creating subtle reflections that shift throughout the day, adding an ethereal quality to the artwork.

The title, Peace, Love, Joy, and Happiness, reflects the painting’s intention to radiate positivity and balance, mirroring the serenity and joy the collectors wished to infuse into their space. This horizontal format not only fits the physical dimensions of its placement but also stretches the symbolic embrace of these universal ideals across the room, inviting all who gather near the fireplace to feel the warmth of its energy.

Timeless yet deeply personal, this commissioned piece embodies the harmony of art, space, and spirit.