"Let There be Light"
A timeless moment brought to life from a torn, wrinkled old newspaper clipping
of a late friend's photo of Lewes Beach that I held onto many years
by Ellen Rice
"Let There be Light" was inspired by an old newspaper clipping I put aside and held onto for many years, always intending to capture the beauty and the feelings it evoked in fond remembrance of a friend. It is painted it in honor of the friend who took the photo, the late journalist and animal rights and environmental supporter, Molly Murray.
I met Molly many years ago during my first public meeting assignment as a journalist. She was working for Delaware's largest newspaper, the News Journal, and was a graduate journalist with a master's degree; I was the rookiest of rookies, stringing for the area's most award-winning weekly paper with no journalism schooling, only a decent command of the English language, interest in local events and people, and most of all a love of truth.
Over the next ten years or so, we frequently covered the same issues, she usually phoning her stories in within minutes of an event and I later writing longer "think pieces" from home or later at my desk at the paper. I had immense admiration for Molly not only for her decisive, quick witted ability, but her heart and dedication to the truth.
In a way, it's ironic that the timeless moment she captured in Lewes years ago was later interpreted by me over a much longer period of time in oil paints using the slow, thought out glazing method. The beauty shines through in both, the truth of a moment, now brought to life in oils to be admired for many more years.
I hope "Let There be Light" puts you in this timeless moment, standing on the deserted beach, toes in cool, damp sand, taking in the peaceful beauty, the scents and sounds of the waterfront, sea birds and gentle lapping of the tide on the shore. Peace.
Enjoy the moment. I salute you Molly Murray.
I met Molly many years ago during my first public meeting assignment as a journalist. She was working for Delaware's largest newspaper, the News Journal, and was a graduate journalist with a master's degree; I was the rookiest of rookies, stringing for the area's most award-winning weekly paper with no journalism schooling, only a decent command of the English language, interest in local events and people, and most of all a love of truth.
Over the next ten years or so, we frequently covered the same issues, she usually phoning her stories in within minutes of an event and I later writing longer "think pieces" from home or later at my desk at the paper. I had immense admiration for Molly not only for her decisive, quick witted ability, but her heart and dedication to the truth.
In a way, it's ironic that the timeless moment she captured in Lewes years ago was later interpreted by me over a much longer period of time in oil paints using the slow, thought out glazing method. The beauty shines through in both, the truth of a moment, now brought to life in oils to be admired for many more years.
I hope "Let There be Light" puts you in this timeless moment, standing on the deserted beach, toes in cool, damp sand, taking in the peaceful beauty, the scents and sounds of the waterfront, sea birds and gentle lapping of the tide on the shore. Peace.
Enjoy the moment. I salute you Molly Murray.
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