Gumball

Medium: Acrylic on canvas panel
Size: 8X10 inches
Location: Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas

Gumball is a portrait of a small but constant presence during my time in residence at Big Thicket National Preserve. This one-eyed frog made a home above the doorframe, returning day and night, quietly sharing the space and becoming part of the rhythm of daily life.

Painted from direct observation, the piece focuses on a simple moment—Gumball resting against the warm textures of wood, partially tucked into shadow. The composition emphasizes stillness and proximity, capturing not just the form of the frog, but the familiarity that grew over time.

Created during my artist residency at Big Thicket, this painting reflects a different kind of field note—one shaped not by a sweeping landscape, but by repeated encounters with a single, watchful presence.