Sunset in Aswan is part of my Egyptian Series, a body of work inspired by a recent journey through Egypt—its light, ancient geometry, and enduring stillness. In this painting, the last rays of sun stretch across a darkened landscape, with the Nile shimmering in the foreground. I wanted to capture not just the scene, but the sensation: the hush of water and air as the day releases its heat, and the horizon fades into dusk. Working in acrylic, I build each painting in layers—scraping, blending, responding as the surface evolves. I let color, form, and intuition guide the process, allowing memory and emotion to shape the outcome. Travel often fuels my work—not just visually, but energetically. Egypt left an imprint: a sense of timeless rhythm, reverence, and scale. I returned home with a need to translate those impressions in paint. It’s an honor to contribute this piece to Art for Life, a celebration of creativity in service to healing. As artists, we offer not just something to see, but something to feel—something that, with any luck, resonates beyond the canvas.
Dana Grubbe is a central Ohio artist known for her contemporary abstracts in acrylic and oil. Her mixed media paintings explore color, texture, and emotional resonance through bold surface work and layered composition. Her latest body of work, the Egyptian Series, draws inspiration from a recent journey along the Nile. Dana came to art after a successful career in engineering at Bell Labs. Following her retirement, she studied fine art at the Columbus College of Art & Design and The Ohio State University. Her transition from technology to visual expression reflects a lifelong fascination with both structure and spontaneity. Travel has long informed Dana’s visual language. Time spent living in India and journeys through Europe and Asia continue to shape her palette and perspective. She is also a certified Creativity Coach and teaches workshops from her studio at 400 West Rich in Franklinton. Dana’s work is held in the permanent collections of the Santa Fe Museum of Encaustic Art and the Bexley Public Library. She is represented by Hayley Gallery in New Albany and exhibits regularly with Art@43023 in Granville.