Haven by Michael C. Hayes

"There is an old adage among artists that says you must listen to the painting and let it be what it wants to be. With Haven, that saying rang truer than with any other piece I have worked on. The initial concept was to be a much more serene portrait of a young woman sleeping peacefully. While working out the pose and the lighting, it started to take on a much darker and much more emotionally impactful mood. I decided to run with it, and thanks to the genius of my model, I ended up with a pose that conveys both strength and vulnerability. From there, it was back to the drawing board, where I completed multiple sketches and color studies as I sought to add elements and symbolism that would complement the central figure. I wasn’t looking to tell a specific story, but rather hint at just enough of a one to elicit a personal narrative in the mind of the viewer." - Michael C. Hayes