Inspired by a view of the NYC skyline with dazzling lights, this original oil painting is my contemporary take on cityscapes, depicting mystery, magic, and a hopeful yet dreamy feeling. While painting from direct observations, I squint my eyes to see the big shapes and patterns. I have a habit of doing the same outdoors to find a good composition, and this process gets intense when the sky light is low. The resulting blurry vision, large abstract shapes, and muted colors—punctuated by just a few bright highlights—evolved into my signature City Lights painting series. These visual elements communicate a sense of modern loneliness and mystery, while the scattered bright colors offer us gentle hints of hope