Light in the Window represents the cherished feeling of being welcomed home. It was one of the first paintings I created after leaving Florida—the place where I spent my entire childhood and young adulthood—and moving to Tennessee.

I painted this piece in a friend’s backyard, and as I worked, I thought about the comfort of arriving somewhere with the lights already turned on. Our friends provided us with a home away from home during that season, and I’ll never forget how sweet it felt to arrive at their house and feel a little less alone in a new place.

A light in the window makes a house feel as though it has a heartbeat—a symbol of welcome, warmth, and respite from the world, whether you’re returning to a familiar place or finding your way in a new one.

With its square dimensions and color palette reminiscent of a warmly lit window, this piece points back to that moment in my life and to the deep gratitude we feel for the places—and people—that make us feel at home.