Galaxies of Light
As I contemplate a photograph of the Andromeda galaxy, the nearest of the galaxies resembling our own, I’m awestruck by the realization that I’m looking at a celestial object that no human being can ever hope to visit. For even if it were possible to travel close to the speed of light, at 186,282 miles per second, it would take 2.3 million years to reach our nearest neighbour. Humbled by this sobering realization, I decided to paint a series of canvases depicting the exquisite beauty of galaxies and nebulae.
I would like to thank the California Institute of Technology for granting me permission to base my painting Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius on their telescopic photograph.
I would also like to thank David Malin and the Anglo-Australian Observatory for gracious permission to base the following paintings on photographs taken with the Anglo-Australian Observatory telescope:
Antares and Reflection Nebula around Rho Ophiuchus
The Great Nebula in the Sword Handle of Orion
The Antennae-Intersecting Galaxies NGC 4038-39
The Horsehead Nebula
