Light and darkness play a central role in my work — both visually and emotionally. I begin each painting from black-and-white reference photos, building the piece gradually from the deepest shadows to the brightest highlights. Although the reference is monochrome, the colors are entirely my own. I replace the original hues with bolder, expressive palettes while carefully preserving the underlying values. This approach creates a visual language in which light and shadow convey mood, emotion and its own atmosphere.