The downtown skyline gets reimagined here at sunset, with a striped hot air balloon drifting in from the left in bands of rose, teal, and gold. The towers stand together on the right: a tall terracotta-pink spire stepping up to its peak, a dark glass block, a pale tan tower, and a slim blue cylinder catching the last light. Below, freeway overpasses curve through the scene, edged by trees in green and golden ochre and low rooftops washed in peach.
Mae Holliday paints in an impressionist manner, and the sky shows it best. It is built from loose, thick dabs of lavender, pink, mint, and soft orange that sit on the surface like scattered petals. A warm glow settles along the horizon, and small flecks of light dot the building windows. Up close you can see each stroke, while from across the room it reads as a calm evening. It's polished but not precious, the kind of canvas wall art that looks intentional without trying too hard.
For Houston natives who want something gentler than a photograph on their wall, or for a transplant who misses home.
The horizontal format fits well above sofas or credenzas, and the soft pastel palette suits contemporary homes, bedrooms, and offices alike.