This small painting happened on a whim. I had a couple of hours free between two painting classes and suddenly got inspired by a wooden hand sitting on a shelf.

I quickly set up some lights and struggled a bit to secure the brush in the wooden hand as it kept slipping. Then, I began painting. As the wooden hand and the brush started to take shape, I started thinking about what background to add. That's when I remembered Mark Rothko's paintings with rectangles. He was an abstract American painter from post-war New York, and I often teach his techniques to my students because they help them understand texture and transparency in painting. To make it work practically, I turned the rectangles vertically instead of his usual horizontal ones.

In the end, what started as a spontaneous moment between classes turned into a meaningful exploration of technique and inspiration. As the painting came together, I couldn't help but appreciate the unexpected journey from a simple wooden hand to the influence of a renowned artist like Mark Rothko.