Under The Moonlight by Tiffany Budd

Under The Moonlight - Coloured Pencil on Paper - h 34 x w 24 x d 0.2 cm

Tiffany Budd’s “Under the Moonlight” invites viewers into a world where geometry and nature coalesce. This striking artwork, executed using the artist’s signature Fractured technique, takes its cues from Cubist masters, with an emphasis on fragmented forms and interlocking planes. Measuring 34 cm in height and 24 cm in width, it’s a modestly sized piece, yet the depth it captures is immense, evoking a dreamscape under lunar illumination.

Created with Derwent Lightfast pencils, Budd demonstrates her expertise with this medium, achieving a stunning interplay of light and shadow. The hues range from cool blues to soft yellows, creating a sense of tranquility balanced by dynamic angularity. The scene is abstract, yet distinctly maritime—sails, waves, and cloud formations emerge in the fractured geometric forms, their shapes bending and twisting as if caught in a dance beneath the moon’s glow. The title suggests a nocturnal setting, yet the piece is luminous, as if the moonlight itself is bending to light every facet of the artwork.

Budd’s decision to work within the Cubist framework is fascinating. Traditionally, Cubism dissects reality into multiple perspectives, creating a fractured vision that questions the limits of perception. In “Under the Moonlight,” Budd’s approach to Cubism is more meditative. Her fractured technique softens the angularity of Cubism, creating a flow that mirrors the natural undulation of waves or the curves of clouds. The piece speaks of harmony between the natural world and human perception, evoking how we experience the world in fragments, yet still perceive it as whole.

While Cubism often challenges the viewer to deconstruct reality, Budd’s work feels more like an invitation to reimagine it. Her use of colour is particularly striking. The blues, characteristic of twilight and the sea, create a calm, almost spiritual, atmosphere. The golden hues reflect the warm glow of moonlight, suggesting both comfort and mystery.

The composition is not entirely abstract; the viewer can discern suggestions of sailboats, waves, and a horizon, yet they remain elusive. This elusiveness is part of the work’s charm, allowing viewers to engage their imagination and connect with the piece on an emotional level. It captures the essence of being under the moonlight—where clarity is softened by shadows and the world feels both familiar and foreign.

Budd frames this drawing in black with a cream mount, which enhances the contrast between light and dark in the work itself. The simplicity of the frame directs all attention to the artwork, allowing its complex layers to take centre stage.

Through this captivating use of Cubism and her own Fractured technique, Tiffany Budd succeeds in creating a piece that feels timeless, a reflection on both the power of nature and the intricacies of human perception. The artwork’s balance between abstract form and recognisable imagery makes it both a celebration of the Cubist movement and an exploration of how we experience the world through light, shape, and colour. In “Under the Moonlight,” Budd gives viewers a glimpse into a universe where the boundaries between the natural and the abstract blur, leaving behind only the beauty of form and light.

Check out more of Budd’s work on her website