The Story

Cathedral is set along Crystal Creek in my hometown of Nelson, British Columbia, where I have returned since my teenage years for solitude, reflection, and renewal. I portray myself beside its rushing water, surrounded by towering trees and moss-covered rocks. This forest has always felt like a natural cathedral—a sacred place where the visible and unseen worlds meet.

During a photoshoot at the creek, a mysterious orb appeared in one of the photographs. I preserved it in the painting, hovering among the trees, and added prismatic rays that bathe the forest in rainbow light.

Created for Spirits of Brooklyn, the painting connects this personal landscape with my life in New York through a jaguar inspired by one at the American Museum of Natural History. As a spirit animal, guardian, and companion, it brings a sense of protection to this place of mystery and renewal.

Materials & Framing

This painting was created with archival oil paint on museum-grade canvas. The canvas was carefully prepared with several layers of gesso to create an exceptionally smooth surface, allowing for delicate details, subtle transitions, and luminous passages of color.

The canvas is stretched over substantial, gallery-depth stretcher bars measuring 1.5 inches deep. The edges are painted white for a clean, contemporary presentation, giving the painting a beautifully finished appearance from every angle. It arrives ready to hang and can be displayed elegantly without a frame.

Cathedral

oil on canvas

24 x 20 inches

$4,500 USD

Worldwide shipping is available. For shipping rates please email kristy@kristygordon.com.