The Light Gatherer Large Wall Art
$1,296.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
A gentle hush settles over this nocturnal forest, and the painting feels like a small, private parable about seeking and carrying light. The central figure — a woman in a deep plum gown with warm gold accents — holds a glowing orb that casts a soft halo across her face, while many other lantern-like lights hang from the trees and float nearby. Those warm points of light, echoed in the golden bands of her dress, create a feeling of inner warmth and purpose against the cool, shadowed woods. The path of round stepping stones leads back into the dark but also suggests steady progress; nearby roses in rich reds and purples give the scene a tender, almost storybook intimacy. Small birds perched on her sleeve and among the branches add a touch of companionship and whimsy without changing the painting’s quiet seriousness. Overall, the image feels reassuring — a visual reminder that gathering wisdom or hope can be a luminous, solitary act made sweeter by small helpers and signs of growth along the way.
The Artwork
About The Light Gatherer
I was on my way back from taking some paintings to an art show when I heard a bit of a talk Elder Uchtdorf had given. He said how “we are gatherers of light.” I thought that was such a cool image. We spend so much of our lives trying to discover the things that give our lives purpose. Representing that lifelong quest with little orbs of light seemed the perfect metaphor. While we’re doing this light-harvesting, little friends are attracted to us along the way. Maybe they bring us sustenance like the ravens did for Elijah, or maybe they just poop on us, but either way we are not alone in our search. If we stay focused on the light, we’ll be okay. The lights represent tidbits of truth. You may notice that this woman does not have anywhere to store the lamps. That is because she must put them inside. This reminds us that truth is only as useful as we can internalize it. The flowers represent the blossoming of our understanding as we gain more orbs of truth. The birds represent those who help us along our quest. Sometimes, unfortunately, that help comes in the form of demonstrating what the opposite of light and truth is. Either way, no interaction is wasted. For my setting I chose a forest. Forests are interesting to me. Growing up in Utah with very little firsthand experience of ‘real’ trees, I see them as magical, or even sacred, spaces. They appear in all the stories. Sometimes they represent oppressive, scary places where one gets lost. Sometimes they serve as resorts of refuge or solitude. One’s attitude really dictates whether this is a sacred place to gain enlightenment or as a dark place one is trying to leave behind by gathering enough truth.
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Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Samantha Long.
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Samantha Long is an artist who loves patterns, bright colors, and whimsy. She started taking art lessons at the age of 10 with fine artist Monique DeWitt and continued with art through high school. It wasn’t until Samantha was chosen as a Sterling Scholar for Fine Art, however, that she started taking art more seriously. After taking her art portfolio over to Bob Barrett and receiving an invitation to study with his department, Samantha decided to study Illustration at Brigham Young University under Christopher Thornock, Robert Barrett, and Bethanne Andersen. “I did Illustration not because I intended to do illustration— quite the contrary, actually; I hate being told what to paint. I did it because the program taught me how to draw. If you can draw, you can tackle pretty much anything— in art and life.”
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