Before the Stars began with the same inspiration photo that sparked Alone in the Milky Way — a breathtaking desert shot of the Milky Way rising like a luminous spine out of the scrub. I expected to follow that image all the way into a maximal, star‑filled sky again. But the moment I laid down the first gradients, everything changed.
Those colors stopped me.
The deep violet dissolving into warm desert light at the horizon — I could stare into that transition and feel myself transported. It was one of those rare moments where the painting announces itself before you’ve even built the subject. For a second, I thought: Done. That was easy. The atmosphere alone was enough.
But the inspiration photo kept calling, and I continued on to finish Alone in the Milky Way in all its cosmic drama. Still, I couldn’t shake the power of those original colors — the quiet, the anticipation, the sense of standing in the desert just before the sky reveals itself.
Before the Stars is my way of honoring that moment.
It’s the prelude to the night sky — the breath before the first star appears. A horizon suspended between day and cosmos. A desert evening distilled into pure color and emotion. Where Alone in the Milky Way reaches upward into the full spectacle of the universe, Before the Stars stays grounded in the stillness that comes just before it.
This piece is about the beauty of possibilities.
 
The works available are 8x12 print in a 12x16 white matt or 8x12 print only AND 12x18 print in a 16x20 white matt or 12x18 print only, 4x6 print in a white matt. Also 24x36 and 32x48 print only for those that want a bigger splash! 
 
For this series only, I’m offering a very limited edition of five enhanced serigraphs. Each piece is printed on canvas, then hand-signed with painted detail and set in a custom floating frame—0.7" wide and 1.8" deep. You can choose from six frame finishes: black, white, silver, gold, espresso, or maple. These editions are available in two sizes: 16×24 and 32×48. After your purchase, I’ll personally reach out to confirm the best frame choice for your piece. Please allow an additional 2–3 weeks for this specialty offering.