My Most Ambitious Project to Date: Pont Neuf at Dusk

There are moments in an artist's journey when you know you're pushing yourself into entirely new territory. This is one of those moments.

For months now, I've been immersed in what has become the most ambitious project I've ever undertaken: a depiction of the Pont Neuf in Paris at dusk. The composition's complexity has demanded every bit of patience, skill, and vision I can muster—and I'm still in the early stages of bringing it to life.

A Labor of Love (and Layers)

This week marks a significant milestone. After months of careful planning and preparation, I'm finally moving into the texture and carving stage. This is where the magic really happens—where every element is meticulously built up, sanded, and shaped by hand before the metallic leaf and oil paint are applied.

If you're familiar with my work, you know that texture is my language. It's how I create depth, movement, and emotion in my pieces. My paintings typically feature three or four layers of carefully crafted texture. But this piece? This beast is going to require over fifty layers.

Yes, you read that right. Fifty.

Embracing the Joyous Tedium

I'll be honest—the scale of what lies ahead is both exhilarating and daunting. Each layer needs to be applied with intention, allowed to set, then carved and refined before the next can be added. It's painstaking work that demands absolute focus and precision. One misstep, and hours of progress can be compromised.

But here's the thing: I'm learning to lean into what I call the "joyous tedium" of this process. There's something meditative about the repetition, something deeply satisfying about watching a vision slowly, methodically take form beneath your hands. This isn't the instant gratification of a quick sketch—this is a marathon, a test of dedication and craft.

Why the Pont Neuf?

The Pont Neuf holds a special place in my heart. Despite its name—which means "New Bridge"—it's actually the oldest standing bridge across the Seine in Paris. There's something poetic about that contradiction, something that speaks to the layers of history, the passage of time, and the enduring beauty of great architecture.

Capturing it at dusk adds another dimension entirely. That fleeting golden hour when the light softens, the shadows deepen, and the city takes on an almost dreamlike quality—it's a challenge I couldn't resist. The interplay of light on stone, the reflection in the water, the way the bridge connects two banks and two worlds... it all needs to be translated into texture and metallic shimmer.

The Challenge Ahead

This isn't my biggest piece in terms of physical dimensions, but it's absolutely the most complex challenge I've ever set for myself. Every architectural detail, every play of light, every ripple in the water—it all needs to be considered, planned, and executed with precision.

The months I've already invested have taught me so much about patience, about trusting the process, and about the difference between complexity and chaos. Now, as I stand at the threshold of the most intensive phase, I'm taking a deep breath and preparing for the journey ahead.

Following the Journey

I'll be sharing progress updates as this piece evolves, layer by layer. Some weeks might show dramatic transformations; others might reveal changes so subtle they're almost invisible to anyone but me. But each layer, each carved detail, each moment of careful work is bringing me closer to the vision I've been carrying in my mind's eye.

I can't wait to see this come to life. And I'm grateful to have you along for the ride.