The Story

Cathedral is set along Crystal Creek in my hometown of Nelson, British Columbia, a place I have returned to since I was a teenager for solitude, reflection, and renewal. The painting depicts me wandering beside its rushing water, surrounded by towering trees, moss-covered rocks, and luminous forest light. To me, this landscape has always felt like a natural cathedral, a sacred place where the boundary between the visible and unseen worlds becomes thinner.

When a friend and I did a photoshoot at the creek, a mysterious orb appeared in one of the photographs. I was fascinated by its presence and decided to preserve it in the painting, allowing it to hover among the trees like a small concentration of light or spiritual energy. Prismatic rays enter from the upper right, bathing the landscape in rainbow colors and heightening the sense that something magical is unfolding.

I created Cathedral for Spirits of Brooklyn, so I brought this deeply personal landscape into conversation with imagery from my life in New York. Beside the figure is a jaguar spirit animal inspired by one I encountered at the American Museum of Natural History. Quietly watchful, the jaguar becomes a guardian and companion within the forest. Together, the figure, animal, orb, and radiant light transform Crystal Creek into an imaginal space filled with mystery, protection, and the restorative energy of the natural world.

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.