They don’t flap like birds. They don’t fight for airspace. They just open their wings and let the night breeze carry them. And then, when they’re done, they hang upside down and go to sleep. Zero regrets. Meet Hang Ten, the flying fox who is wrapped in his own confidence and presence, waiting for the moment he soars.
When I sat down to paint this piece for my Nightlife collection, I knew I wanted to capture that quiet, effortless cool. The kind of confidence that doesn’t need to announce itself.
The Inspiration Behind the Piece
Flying foxes are often overlooked. They come out in the dark, they hang in massive noisy groups, and they are deeply misunderstood. But if you actually stop and watch them, they are remarkable. They navigate using sound, they travel huge distances every night, and they play a vital role in keeping our ecosystems alive.
They are also effortlessly stylish. Wings spread, silhouettes cutting across the moon, hanging upside down without a care in the world. They are the original night surfers.
I wanted this piece to feel like that. A brief, quiet glimpse of something soaring overhead. Not spooky. Not misunderstood. Just a creature completely at home in the night sky.
By putting this flying fox in stark, brilliant white against an inky black void, I stripped away the “creepy” stereotype and gave him a haunting, elegant presence. He isn’t a shadow to be feared. He is a gentle giant of the night, riding the breeze with quiet confidence.
The Creative Process: Building the Void, Then Bringing in the Light
For the Nightlife collection, the process begins long before I pick up a white brush. I work exclusively on A3 paper, but I don’t start on blank white space, I build the darkness first.
Laying the Foundation: I begin by coating the A3 paper with a thick layer of grey gesso. Once that dries, I add a second heavy coat of black gesso. I don’t smooth it out perfectly; I use deliberate brushstrokes to leave a gritty, raw texture in the background. This “roughness” is what gives the finished piece its depth when the white acrylic catches the light later on.
The Midnight Sketch: Once the black gesso is fully set, I don’t use a pencil. I grab a piece of chalk or a white charcoal pencil and sketch directly onto the dark, textured surface. Just loose, luminous outlines mapping out the sweeping curve of his wings, the sharp little ears, and that distinct dog-like face that makes flying foxes so surprisingly endearing.
The Dry-Brush Build: The magic happens when I begin laying down the pure white and soft shades of black acrylics. I work with both dry and wet brush techniques, letting the grain of the black gesso underneath show through the lighter shades. I build the form slowly, focusing on capturing the delicate texture of the wing membrane, the soft fur on his chest, and that quiet, unassuming face, loving the simplicity and challenge of using only black and white to define the shadows and highlights.
The Eyes: As with every piece in my portfolio, I leave the eyes for last. A single pinpoint of white catchlight against the deep black pupil gives this gentle night rider his soulful, knowing gaze. He isn’t spooky. He is just quietly soaring, completely at home in the dark.
Bringing “Hang Ten” Into Your Space
Because of its stark, minimalist design and textured background, “Hang Ten” works beautifully in a bedroom, a reading nook, or a space that leans into a moody, natural aesthetic. The bright white silhouette pops vividly against both dark charcoal and bright cream walls, making it a versatile statement piece for anyone who loves the quiet magic of the night.
If this gentle night surfer speaks to your own love for the quiet hours, you can view the original A3 acrylic painting or grab a fine-art print in the Nightlife collection.
