Two years ago on May 9th, 2023, I underwent a lumpectomy for breast cancer. This month, I’m working on the largest commission of my career. Life unfolds in the most unexpected ways.
First, I’d love to introduce you to my new assistant, Abbie Rugg. Abbie is an exceptionally talented artist in her own right. We’re eerily alike—both total workhorses with a shared painting style, obsessive attention to detail, and a surprising number of parallels in our lives. She’s a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art with a background in decorative painting, and I feel incredibly lucky to have her at Lenehan Studios. I’m excited to see how her skills will elevate our craftsmanship and creative output.
Abigail Rugg is an interdisciplinary artist based in Baltimore who uses various mediums to celebrate light. Abigail has gained a wide range of skills from realistic oil painting, large-scale abstract installation, sculpture, fibers, ceramics, etc.
“I am constantly in awe of light. My work is fabricated by the idea that various realms of light can impact the emotional weight of each space we live in.”
As for that major commission—I’ve been asked by David Gardiner, principal of Gardiner Hall Associates Studio to design and execute a mural in the style of William Bouguereau’s Madonna of the Angels for the apse of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clarksburg, West Virginia. It’s the most ambitious project I’ve ever taken on—pushing both my painting and math skills to new heights.
I’ve assembled an amazing team of artists to help bring this vision to life, both in the studio and on site. My process involves painting the figures on canvas here in the studio, then installing them on site. Once in place, I’ll paint the clouds and trompe l’oeil base moulding directly onto the apse. While we have a few other decorative elements planned for the church, this mural will undoubtedly be the crown jewel.
The Immaculate Conception Church is West Virginia’s second-largest space for Catholic Worship. Clarksburg’s Catholic community was officially established in 1864 and was composed primarily of Irish immigrants. This building was finished in 1925 and replaced a previous church. Architect E.J. Weber designed the building and was lauded with critical acclaim for his work. The Italian Romanesque structure incorporates influences from other international Catholic churches, such as the Church of San Zeno in Verona, Italy. A massive campanile towers over the already imposing Immaculate Conception Church, making the entire building one of the most distinctive landmarks in the area. The church remains in use for Catholic worship services. (source)
Sadly, during the 1970s, there was a widespread movement to simplify church interiors, stripping them of much of their grandeur in an effort to make the sanctuary feel more accessible to parishioners. In recent years, however, there’s been a resurgence of interest in restoring traditional church interiors, including the reintroduction of painted decoration.
This project feels deeply meaningful—not just professionally, but personally. And I can't wait to share more as it unfolds.