First Light: Finding Hope in the Darkness

First Light is an original oil painting inspired by a deeply personal moment of transformation. Created in 2023, this artwork captures the emotional journey from darkness to light—a story of hope, renewal, and inner strength. Through a soft green background and expressive brushwork, the piece reflects the resilience of the human spirit and the power of trusting the light within.

There are moments in life when the path ahead feels dark, uncertain—when everything you once believed in comes a question. First Light was born from one of those moments of complete darkness into complete hope. 

I was in the northern part of Colombia, in an area that many (including myself) considered sacred, Parque Tairona. I was far from my comfort zone, trying to make sense of my life and—most of all—my decision to become an artist. I was in a very dark and confused place. So one morning, I woke up just before sunrise. Outside, the world was pitch black, you couldn’t see anything and I remember thinking, “This is exactly how I feel—lost in darkness, there is nothing to see inside me."

Then, slowly, a tiny ray of sunlight appeared. At first, it touched only a small corner of the darkness. But slowly—it stretched, expanded, and eventually filled everything with light. In that instant, something shifted in me. My heart opened and there it was, “that tiny light” inside me, “I felt hope”. I realized that I, too, carried that light within me— I realized it had  always been there. I just needed to trust it, nurture it, and allow it to grow from within. 

First Light is my visual memory and representation of that awakening moment. 

I painted the background in a soft, light green to evoke calm and harmony - my interpretation of my inner hope, in a gentle contrast to the slightly chaotic sky—an intentional reflection of the inner confusion I felt at the time. And the raising palms, express that desire of expanding that hope within. 

My hope is that First Light serves as a reminder—just as it did for me—that even in the darkest of moments, the light is already on its way.