For this painting, I was inspired by the way candlelight reflected on my face as everything around me receded into darkness. I love how a single, flickering light source lit me, creating a dramatic effect and adding contrast to my facial features.  Although the piece was predominantly oil on canvas, I wasn't completely satisfied with how the painting was developing, so I experimented with adding gloss over parts of the paint, which made the candles feel even brighter and further illuminated my face, adding depth.