Kelsey Beckett's comforting oil paintings capture the 'gentle ache of loss felt' when summer is over

For her latest series, The Amber Orchard – on show at Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles this March – she attempts to capture the "gentle ache of loss felt as summer submits itself to autumn".

Regarding her new works, Beckett shares: "Previously bright and abundant scenes quietly desaturate, bringing with them the hush of a tawny, amber atmosphere. Certain figures flourish in lulled solitude, softly gazing at the viewer as if they share a deep and intimate secret. Others seem faintly aware that they're being viewed at all, having found lush and tranquil relationships with another being.

"These immortal figures maintain their own mystery and calm, some adorned with lavish couture and luminous greenery, others forever suspended in a silent pastoral, relying on colour and symbols to shape their story. These characters attempt to share the burden of transition and loss with the viewer, gently reassuring them through soft looks and velvet ambience that they are not alone in the delicate passage of time, and that abundance exists even in decay. It is once again the perspective and unique circumstances of the viewer that helps breathe life into each subject, enjoying a moment of silence and reflection, before allowing themselves to move on."

Originally from Metro Detroit, currently residing in Kentucky, Kelsey Beckett attended art school in Detroit and worked as a sign maker before fully immersing herself into oil painting. Through all her artworks, she attempts to calm or comfort the viewer. Discover more of her work at kelseybeckett.com.