Artist Jesse Aldana captures the spirit of the West through the ritual beauty of sunrise and sunset. His compositions depict residential neighborhoods, bustling thoroughfares, and serene coastal scenes of Los Angeles. Jesse completed his MFA at the New York Academy of Art. Early in his career, he witnessed a colleague conjure enormous sky and cloud murals for the Rose Room of the New York Public Library. Watching the artist’s command of tone, value, and sensitivity to mark-making left a lasting impact on him. “The sky is an overwhelming presence,” says Jesse. With a day job, Jesse usually paints at night in his home studio, starting his process with a cup of tea. When not doing art, Jesse enjoys spending time with his son and partner, working out, and playing puzzles.