Eternal Awakening: The Dance of Old Faithful at Dusk

The central figure,  Old Faithful , erupts like a rhythmic heartbeat of the Earth, a geyser that has been reliably bursting forth for thousands of years. In creating this, I wanted to focus on the combination of stability and power—a force of nature that reminds us of the incredible natural energy beneath our feet. With each eruption, Old Faithful speaks of creation, resilience, and the quiet forces that drive the world forward, unseen and unfelt until they break through the surface.  

The  steam cloud rising from the geyser blends seamlessly into the sky, creating a feeling of ethereal connection between the Earth and the heavens. The steam, ephemeral and ever-changing, represents the fleeting moments of life—how, just like a geyser’s burst, moments come and go but leave a lasting impact on the world around them. The colors I chose for the steam—soft pinks and whites—evoke a sense of calm and wonder, a reminder of the beauty in transient moments.  

The  sunset (or sunrise) that bathes the entire scene in golden light symbolizes hope and renewal. There is something deeply emotional about the juxtaposition of the geyser’s power and the soft, warm glow of the sun sinking below the horizon. The  orange and yellow tones in the sky represent warmth, creativity, and the life-giving power of the sun. The sun’s rays seem to embrace the geyser, as if the forces of the sky are in harmony with the forces of the Earth.  

The  golden terrain at the base of the geyser symbolizes the geothermal energy coursing below. The rusty orange hues remind us that beneath this tranquil surface lies an immense power waiting to erupt.  Orange signifies passion, energy, and creation. It is the color of fire, heat, and change—an apt metaphor for the dynamic forces of nature at work in Yellowstone. The choice to use this color in the landscape connects the ground to the geyser’s power, grounding the entire scene in the heat and life of the Earth.  

The  distant horizon represents the vastness of nature, stretching out in the background as a soft, hazy line of hills. This element serves as a reminder of the enduring, ever-present beauty of the Yellowstone landscape, far beyond just the geyser. It anchors the viewer in the larger context of nature’s vast expanse, where Old Faithful is but one element of a much larger, dynamic system.  

Old Faithful has been a central symbol of  Yellowstone National Park since its discovery in  1870 . The geyser earned its name from its predictability, erupting every  90 minutes with heights ranging from  106 to 185 feet , each eruption lasting between  1.5 to 5 minutes . The geothermal forces that drive Old Faithful are a result of Yellowstone sitting atop one of the world’s largest active volcanic systems. These volcanic forces are what make Yellowstone one of the most geologically active areas on Earth.  

The sunset (or sunrise) element in this image adds a layer of  time to the scene, perhaps symbolizing the passing of days, seasons, or even geological eras—reminding us of the natural cycles that govern life on this planet. It evokes feelings of  eternity , as though time itself pauses when we witness the powerful burst of Old Faithful.  

When I created this piece, I was moved by the idea of nature’s consistency—how Old Faithful has been erupting for centuries, unphased by the passage of time or the changes happening in the world around it. As an artist, I find comfort in this kind of stability. It is a reminder that despite the chaos or unpredictability of life, there are forces in nature we can rely on, forces that remind us of the beauty in repetition, in cycles.  

At the same time, the steam cloud merging into the sky felt like an artistic metaphor for how creative energy can flow freely when we tap into it—one moment, it’s tangible and powerful, and the next, it drifts away, ethereal and hard to grasp. This artwork captures that fleeting moment when creativity, like the geyser, bursts forth with intense power and then blends seamlessly into the world, leaving its mark even as it fades.  

In reflecting on this creation, I’m reminded of how small yet powerful we are as humans in the face of nature’s grandeur. Just like Old Faithful, we each have our moments to shine, to release our energy and leave an impression, no matter how brief or grand.  

This piece is a reminder to embrace those moments of eruption—to feel deeply, to create passionately, and to appreciate the awe-inspiring beauty of the natural world that continues to inspire.