Rowing Backwards Into the Future by Tia Sunshine Art

Tia Sunshine Art

Rowing Backwards Into the Future

watercolor

10 x 8 in

"Rowing backwards into the future" is a phrase I heard many years ago that stuck with me. I came across it when studying the Jewish tradition of biblical interpretation, and I have always wanted to try to express it through art.

When the NMA community challenge theme of a "hidden world" was announced, it took me a few days to realize that I could paint The Future as a Hidden World. I wanted to express the unknown of what is approaching. Is it the storm or the sun?
After submitting my initial drawing to NMA instructor Marian Littlejohn for group critique, I was encouraged to consider the Zorn palette, which I had to research. I chose a modified Zorn palette, swapping the bright red for a muted 'red' and the blueish black for a brighter blue. The yellow remained traditional. I mixed everything in the painting from those three colors.

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From Tia Sunshine Art

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Additional Artworks

Charcoal Life Figure with instruction from Juliette Aristides at NMV

Learning the Fundamentals June 2026

NMA Still Life Composition Assignment

Still Life Draw Along online with Catherine Bobkoski

Artistic Decisions

Bright Day

Rob's Bowl

Balance: Light & Darkness of the Soul