Oil on canvas, stretched and ready to hang.

Signed on the front.

This artwork comes with an external frame

Here it is. The final piece for the year.
I had been wanting to paint this all year, but never felt right about it, until two weeks ago. And I now know it's because it's significant for Now. This piece represents a portion of our lives. Perhaps for you it was this year or the past 5 years. I do feel most of us have been experiencing it as a portion of the past decade. It's the muddy climb where we must all pull together and heave ho. We can't expect our partner to do it all for us, or our talent to get us by, or the company we work for, our kids (in whatever form they take), for every one of them is straining as we are.
We also must only carry what is absolutely necessary (you will find that the universe is going to make you give it up by force if it hasn't already) and take the journey with only those who are vital. If we are to make it through the storm and its aftermath, without slipping off the edge, we simply must all take our load and apply full focus. Every part of ourselves must take its own load as well. And I think that the many have been, and that perhaps we're about to reach the top of this journey. Perhaps we finally step out of it this new year. Tomorrow. Or whatever day you read this. The new light is already dawning. The storm clouds have moved off. You can see it is no longer raining and there is a vibrancy to the pallet despite the portrayed exertion in this muddy climb. I wish this for you.

Thank you to Jill van der Sande and Samantha McClunie for the reference photo for this piece. This was a photo taken for a commercial for the DB Clydesdales I believe where in fact they were straining to prevent all involved from slipping over the edge.