The Hour Between

50 × 70 cm
Acrylic, oil sticks and mixed media collage on canvas

€1,500

Some moments belong to neither night nor day, and some linger between both.

The Hour Between is inspired by the quiet Mediterranean mornings when the sea appears suspended between darkness and dawn. As a very early riser, I often begin summer days swimming before sunrise, and winter mornings running, rollerblading, walking or simply watching the coastline slowly emerge from the darkness as the first light transforms the horizon.

Rather than depicting one specific place, this original mixed-media painting distills those fleeting moments into their essential elements: a glowing red sun, distant sailboats, shimmering reflections and layered bands of turquoise and deep blue. It captures the anticipation of a new day filled with possibility, beauty and discovery. Reduced forms, subtle textures and hand-painted collage create a bold, minimalist composition that balances stillness with movement, geometry with atmosphere, and abstraction with memory.

Inspired by countless mornings spent along the French Riviera and Mediterranean coastlines, across changing seasons, shifting light and ever-changing winds, The Hour Between is a reflection on transition, contemplation and the timeless beauty of the Mediterranean waking up to a new day.

Inspirations

The Hour Between was inspired by the peaceful transition between night and day—a fleeting moment I have experienced countless times along the French Riviera and Mediterranean coastlines, across changing seasons, shifting light and ever-changing winds.

From the water, familiar landscapes become almost abstract. The horizon dissolves into bands of colour, distant sailboats appear suspended between sea and sky, and an orange-red sunrise slowly transforms the Mediterranean into a palette of luminous blues and warm reflections. Seen from this perspective, time seems to slow, inviting quiet observation before beaches fill, boats set sail and the rhythm of the day begins.

Rather than capturing one particular sunrise or destination, I wanted to preserve the feeling of these moments: the anticipation of a new day filled with possibility, beauty and discovery. The Hour Between is ultimately a meditation on transition, stillness and the timeless beauty of the Mediterranean waking up to a new day.

The Hour Between was inspired by the peaceful transition between night and day—a fleeting moment I have experienced countless times along the French Riviera and Mediterranean coastlines, across changing seasons, shifting light and ever-changing winds.

From the water, familiar landscapes become almost abstract. The horizon dissolves into bands of colour, distant sailboats appear suspended between sea and sky, and an orange-red sunrise slowly transforms the Mediterranean into a palette of luminous blues and warm reflections. Seen from this perspective, time seems to slow, inviting quiet observation before beaches fill, boats set sail and the rhythm of the day begins.

Rather than capturing one particular sunrise or destination, I wanted to preserve the feeling of these moments: the anticipation of a new day filled with possibility, beauty and discovery. The Hour Between is ultimately a meditation on transition, stillness and the timeless beauty of the Mediterranean waking up to a new day.

Material & Features
Creative Process

Like many of my paintings, The Hour Between began long before I entered the studio. As a very early riser, I spend countless mornings swimming, running, rollerblading and walking along the Mediterranean, observing the changing light, shifting colours and quiet rhythm of the sea before the day begins. I filled sketchbooks with studies of the horizon, distant sailboats and shimmering reflections, collecting impressions rather than documenting one specific place.

Back in the studio, I distilled those observations into a minimalist composition built from layered bands of colour and carefully balanced geometric forms. I painted the original artwork in acrylic on canvas before adding the sailboats using oil sticks, allowing their rich texture to stand out against the smooth gradients of the sea and sky. The shimmering reflections were painted separately on paper, carefully cut by hand and collaged onto the canvas, introducing subtle physical depth while reinforcing the graphic simplicity and rhythm of the composition.

Like many of my paintings, The Hour Between began long before I entered the studio. As a very early riser, I spend countless mornings swimming, running, rollerblading and walking along the Mediterranean, observing the changing light, shifting colours and quiet rhythm of the sea before the day begins. I filled sketchbooks with studies of the horizon, distant sailboats and shimmering reflections, collecting impressions rather than documenting one specific place.

Back in the studio, I distilled those observations into a minimalist composition built from layered bands of colour and carefully balanced geometric forms. I painted the original artwork in acrylic on canvas before adding the sailboats using oil sticks, allowing their rich texture to stand out against the smooth gradients of the sea and sky. The shimmering reflections were painted separately on paper, carefully cut by hand and collaged onto the canvas, introducing subtle physical depth while reinforcing the graphic simplicity and rhythm of the composition.

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