One of my favorite features of our reception venue was the floor-to-ceiling windows with the pale yellow curtains and walls. I chose to paint this portrait to explore the cool lighting on my skin and dress. The painting captures a contemplative moment in the midst of all the planning when I could stop and thank the Lord for sending me the most amazing man with whom to spend the rest of my days.
Little Rock native Kristen Hess has been taken captive by the rich colors and thick textures of oil paints since 2005. Her work combines the effect of light on her subjects with expressive brushstrokes, creating movement and depth in her pieces. Her representational style along with an extensive background in drawing come together with the atmospheric colors of the impressionists to create paintings that capture the emotion of the place or subject.