The First Ascent is more than a painting. It is an invitation. A moment to pause, breathe, and remember that we are not alone. That the sacred is closer than we think, often seen best through the eyes of the animals who love us.

In painting “The First Ascent”, I found myself reaching for a feeling more than an image: the sacred presence that arises when two souls meet without words. The horse’s bowed head and the woman’s closed eyes mirror a silent prayer—not for answers, but for connection. Through this, I am reminded that the Divine often looks like a quiet breath shared in companionship, an invisible thread spun from love and the yearning to ascend.