On Field Paintings...

August 14, 2025

Hello again!

I created my first, signature style, “Fields” painting in Summer of 2020. It started with the basics— just a blank canvas, whatever paint I had, old brushes, and some creative energy. It was never planned, unsure of where it was going, and I remember just truly giving in to where the painting led me. This was the month leading up to leaving for grad school in DC— knowing I won’t have much time to paint/create once I was there I told myself now or never (I still found some time). After completing the first, I remember feeling inspired and even more excited to create and to create more Fields. My first Fields painting hung above my bed in DC for a year, a decoration to anyone else, a constant reminder to create and stretch my creative expression for myself— an anchor.

Over the years, my Fields paintings have taught me so much. To trust the process, to keep it simple, to lead with creativity, have patience, to focus on joy, and to be grateful for the details of life and to reflect on the bigger-picture (and more). I’m not sure if anyone else sees that, will ever get that, but that is why I will always keep returning. And they’re simply uplifting to create! 

It is a wonderful, beautiful extra bonus and cherry on top that others have connected with the Fields paintings, have commissioned them, and have found their own interpretations of them. I feel so lucky and blessed to create art for others and to hear their own reflections. 

Because they are infused with much of my own creative intentionality, self-reflection and expression, and heart, I have found it hard to categorize them and name them as they remain boundless in my mind. Yes, they are a particular style with a loose process I follow, but I don’t think of any of them as the same-- each having their own feeling and interpretation. At the same time, I do think it is important to have a healthy amount of clarity around my own artistic practice and career. 

Therefore, the Fields were born. For five years, I didn’t know exactly what to call them and other “titles”, stylistic designations, and particular descriptions never really felt just right. That was until I was speaking with my dad one day …. For my dad’s 60th birthday, my sweet 92 year old Grandma Dolly purchased a painting of mine to surprise him with as a gift. I added a birthday message on the back for him and mailed it off to GMA Dolly to share. My family has been inundated with my art their entire lives, but I was excited for my dad to have my first “real” painting of mine.  A few days after his birthday he called me to say a friend had come by to see the painting. His friend called it “a field of dreams”. When he told me the story, we both laughed as it reminded us of a frequently watched movie in our family—  the 1989 classic baseball movie, “Field of Dreams”— not quite the reflection I would first associate with my work. But, I did instantly love “the fields” part of it. It feels (and still feels) perfect as in my mind a field is boundless, bold and stretched, calm, full of movement, windy and swaying, light, sun-drenched, vibrant, joyful, and peaceful. A place to go to reflect, dream, play and rest. It fits. 

The First Field Painting , 2020.

Throughout my artistic life, I’ve been consciously and subconsciously influenced by many art historical movements, color theories, methods, and processes. I am still sifting through where inspiration beyond lessons and inner creativity is influenced. Since my earliest memories of creating art and loving art and museums (about 5 years old), I have always gravitated towards the European art movements from about 1885-1910 and abstraction. Though I do love it all, I find myself returning particularly to post-Impressionism and Fauvism and the bookends to both of those. I am slowly starting to understand that inspiration in my own work and practice (not limited to how it appears) as I continue to study art and habitually self-reflect. In the last 10 years or so, I’ve also been fascinated with the global influences of art throughout time and across spheres— particularly how eastern Asian art trickled across the globe upticking from 1840 on, and again in the late 20th century, and how that is a key brick in the foundation for how we understand and interpret art. I truly do not know if the Fields are in any way related to any of my art history interests, but those feel as innately authentic to the bone as an interest as Fields do as a practice. 

I plan to complete 25-30 paintings before the end of October this year and 10+ works on paper— including a new series and commissions. Many of which will be Fields. I also have a new idea that came to me that I am excited to experiment with. We’ll see! 

And lastly— If you’re reading this, thank YOU! My creative courage is indebted to the community around me and encouragement to “never stop creating”— it’s the heartbeat of my practice and daily life.

I am also still in awe post my first Art Party (ie. show). All paintings sold out. Over 100 goods sold. Can’t wait for the next. Just the beginning— more exciting news soon. 

Until the next blog— enjoy your late-summer, do something that makes you happy & repeat it!

And commissions are OPEN— inquire here.

Sofia