I Circle the Sun Like a Shadow

I Circle the Sun Like a Shadow, 2012 Oil and Conté on Paper 57 × 44 1/4 in | 144.8 × 112.4 cm Frame included I Circle the Sun Like Shadow (2012) is a deeply introspective oil and Conté work on cold-pressed French watercolor paper, forming the third major painting in Sean Rush’s Prayer Series. The title is drawn directly from Rumi, the 13th-century Sufi poet, imbuing the work with spiritual and poetic resonance rooted in mystical tradition.The painting portrays a man reclining in quiet stillness—bathed in light yet edged with shadow—embodying a posture of humility and contemplation. Rush blends anatomical realism with expressive gesture: warm umber tones and fluid contours define the figure, while the surrounding space dissolves into delicate washes and minimalist marks. The visible paper surface reinforces a sense of tactile vulnerability and emotional clarity.Rather than depicting a formal religious act, I Circle the Sun Like Shadow evokes the internal experience of meditation and