For the last two years, I have been honored to participate as a featured artist in the Center for Contemporary Arts Paint-Off fundraiser, where artists are challenged to complete a large painting in just 90 minutes.

This painting was my practice piece before the event. Working against the clock forced me to trust years of experience rather than second-guess every brushstroke. Planning composition, proportion, and value quickly became as important as the painting itself.

Having spent years watching hummingbirds in my own garden, I knew the tiny details that mattered most—especially the iridescent ruby throat that flashes differently as light changes. After the initial painting, I added touches of metallic gold to soften the greens and create harmony with the surrounding purples.

This painting reminds me that sometimes our best work happens when we stop overthinking and simply respond to what we know.