How big is When Light Hurts, and what size wall does it suit?

When Light Hurts by Phaedra measures 11.8 by 15.7 inches (30 by 40 cm), so it is portrait, taller than it is wide. VanArtHub suggests hanging it over a wall space or piece of furniture at least 18 inches wide, which keeps the painting at roughly two thirds of the width below it. Measure your wall before you order, and remember the 14-day trial covers you if the scale is not right in the room.

Is When Light Hurts an original painting or a print?

When Light Hurts is a one-of-a-kind original painted by Phaedra, colored pencil on artboard. VanArtHub sells originals only and does not sell prints or reproductions of this work, so once it is bought there is no second copy. A signed Certificate of Authenticity ships with the painting.

What is shown in When Light Hurts?

Artwork depicts a person's upper torso. Right hand covers the eyes and forehead. Visible skin tones are peach, brown, and red. Background is plain white. The subject is people. It was painted by Phaedra and is titled When Light Hurts.

What colours are in When Light Hurts?

The dominant colour in When Light Hurts by Phaedra is beige. The style is figurative, contemporary art. If you are matching a room, work from the wall colour and the largest piece of furniture rather than from small accessories, and use the 14-day trial to see the painting in your own light before you commit.

Who painted When Light Hurts?

When Light Hurts was painted by Phaedra, an artist represented by VanArtHub, a gallery based in Vancouver, Canada. You can see the rest of Phaedra's available and past work at https://vanarthub.com/pages/phaedra.

When was When Light Hurts painted?

When Light Hurts by Phaedra was painted in 2025, colored pencil on artboard. It is a recent original rather than a reissue or a later copy.

How much does When Light Hurts cost, and what is included in the price?

When Light Hurts by Phaedra is $723.00 CAD at VanArtHub. That price includes free fully insured shipping to Canada and the USA, a signed Certificate of Authenticity, and the 14-day trial. There is no framing charge, no delivery charge, and no buyer's premium on top.

Can I return When Light Hurts if it does not suit my wall?

Yes. Every painting VanArtHub sells, including When Light Hurts by Phaedra, comes with a 14-day trial. Hang it at home, and if it is not right, return it within 14 days for a full refund. VanArtHub pays the return shipping, so trying the piece costs you nothing.

How long does shipping take for When Light Hurts, and does it cost extra?

Shipping is free and fully insured. When Light Hurts ships from VanArtHub in Vancouver, Canada, and delivery takes 3 to 7 business days within Canada and 5 to 10 business days to the USA. The painting is professionally packed and tracked door to door, and it is insured for its full value the whole way.

Is When Light Hurts still available?

Yes, When Light Hurts by Phaedra is available to buy at VanArtHub as of today. It is a one-of-a-kind original, so there is only one of it and it is gone once it sells.

What if my taste changes after buying When Light Hurts?

VanArtHub offers a Lifetime Trade-Back. You can trade When Light Hurts back to the gallery at any time, with no deadline, and put the credit toward a different original. Because every piece is one of a kind, the trade-back is what lets a collection change over the years without a loss.

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Original art by Phaedra VanArtHub, Vancouver

When Light Hurts: Original Colored Pencil on Artboard by Phaedra | VanArtHub

Name: When Light Hurts: Original Colored Pencil on Artboard by Phaedra | VanArtHub
Brand: VanArtHub
SKU: COLORED-PENCIL-PAINTING-01
Price: 723.0 CAD
Availability: InStock

Colored Pencil on Artboard11.8 × 15.7 in2025One-of-a-kind original

A minimal fine art portrait capturing vulnerability, silence, and emotional introspection through a delicate human gesture.

$723.00 CAD

Sale Sold out

Free insured shipping to Canada and the USA.

14-day free trial Full refund, we pay return shipping
Free insured shipping Canada 3 to 7 days · USA 5 to 10
Certificate of Authenticity Signed original, included
Lifetime Trade-Back Trade in for store credit, any time

See it in person. Our gallery is at 1242 Davie Street, Vancouver, open seven days a week. Call (604) 401-9499 to check this piece is on the wall before you come, or plan your visit.

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The story behind this piece

This fine art portrait presents a quiet moment of emotional introspection. A female figure partially hides her face with her arms, suggesting vulnerability, exhaustion, and the need for inward retreat. The restrained palette and soft transitions dissolve sharp boundaries, allowing emotion to take precedence over form.

Rather than telling a direct story, the artwork offers a pause, an intimate space where feeling exists without explanation. The minimal composition emphasizes stillness and sensitivity, inviting viewers to connect with their own moments of silence and emotional rest.

This piece is ideal for collectors drawn to subtle, introspective contemporary portraiture and emotionally resonant fine art.

Shipping, trial and returns

Free, fully insured shipping. Delivery takes 3 to 7 business days in Canada and 5 to 10 in the USA. Every piece is professionally packed and insured door to door.
14-day free trial. Live with the painting for 14 days. If it is not right for your space, return it for a full refund and we pay the return shipping.
Certificate of Authenticity. A signed certificate ships with the artwork, confirming it is a one-of-a-kind original.
Lifetime Trade-Back. Your taste can change. Trade this piece back at any time for store credit toward another original.
Ships from Vancouver, Canada. Packed by the gallery and tracked all the way to your door.

Size: 11.8 × 15.7 in
Medium: Colored Pencil on Artboard
Subject: Portrait Paintings
Style: Fine Art Paintings
Orientation: Vertical
Artist: Phaedra
Year: 2025
Edition: Original, one of a kind
Authenticity: Certificate of Authenticity included
SKU: COLORED-PENCIL-PAINTING-01

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Part of: People Contemporary Colored Pencil Paintings

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About this artwork

Artwork Statement

This artwork depicts the upper torso of a person, from the chest upwards, against a plain white background. The central figure is shown with their right arm raised, hand covering their eyes and forehead, obscuring the upper half of their face. The visible portion of the face reveals a subtle pink mouth and chin. The arm, shoulder, and neck are rendered with visible muscle definition and skin texture, highlighted by warm, natural skin tones ranging from light peach to deeper reddish-browns. A faint red outline defines the contours of a tank top or similar garment on the torso. The colors are predominantly earthy and muted, with the white background emphasizing the figure. The overall mood is one of introspection or perhaps a moment of shielding from an unseen element, conveying a sense of quiet vulnerability.

Interior Design Use

This piece would complement a minimalist or contemporary interior, particularly in a bedroom or study. Its muted palette and introspective subject create a serene and contemplative atmosphere, encouraging quiet reflection within the space.

Technical Details

Artist: Phaedra
Medium: Colored Pencil on Artboard
Size: 11.8 x 15.7 in (30 x 40 cm)
Year: 2025
Type: One-of-a-kind original
Certificate of Authenticity: Included

Questions about this painting

How big is When Light Hurts, and what size wall does it suit?: When Light Hurts by Phaedra measures 11.8 by 15.7 inches (30 by 40 cm), so it is portrait, taller than it is wide. VanArtHub suggests hanging it over a wall space or piece of furniture at least 18 inches wide, which keeps the painting at roughly two thirds of the width below it. Measure your wall before you order, and remember the 14-day trial covers you if the scale is not right in the room.
Is When Light Hurts an original painting or a print?: When Light Hurts is a one-of-a-kind original painted by Phaedra, colored pencil on artboard. VanArtHub sells originals only and does not sell prints or reproductions of this work, so once it is bought there is no second copy. A signed Certificate of Authenticity ships with the painting.
What is shown in When Light Hurts?: Artwork depicts a person's upper torso. Right hand covers the eyes and forehead. Visible skin tones are peach, brown, and red. Background is plain white. The subject is people. It was painted by Phaedra and is titled When Light Hurts.
What colours are in When Light Hurts?: The dominant colour in When Light Hurts by Phaedra is beige. The style is figurative, contemporary art. If you are matching a room, work from the wall colour and the largest piece of furniture rather than from small accessories, and use the 14-day trial to see the painting in your own light before you commit.
Which room does When Light Hurts suit?: This piece would complement a minimalist or contemporary interior, particularly in a bedroom or study. Its muted palette and introspective subject create a serene and contemplative atmosphere, encouraging quiet reflection within the space. When Light Hurts was painted by Phaedra.
Who painted When Light Hurts?: When Light Hurts was painted by Phaedra, an artist represented by VanArtHub, a gallery based in Vancouver, Canada. You can see the rest of Phaedra's available and past work at https://vanarthub.com/pages/phaedra.
When was When Light Hurts painted?: When Light Hurts by Phaedra was painted in 2025, colored pencil on artboard. It is a recent original rather than a reissue or a later copy.
How much does When Light Hurts cost, and what is included in the price?: When Light Hurts by Phaedra is $723.00 CAD at VanArtHub. That price includes free fully insured shipping to Canada and the USA, a signed Certificate of Authenticity, and the 14-day trial. There is no framing charge, no delivery charge, and no buyer's premium on top.
Can I return When Light Hurts if it does not suit my wall?: Yes. Every painting VanArtHub sells, including When Light Hurts by Phaedra, comes with a 14-day trial. Hang it at home, and if it is not right, return it within 14 days for a full refund. VanArtHub pays the return shipping, so trying the piece costs you nothing.
How long does shipping take for When Light Hurts, and does it cost extra?: Shipping is free and fully insured. When Light Hurts ships from VanArtHub in Vancouver, Canada, and delivery takes 3 to 7 business days within Canada and 5 to 10 business days to the USA. The painting is professionally packed and tracked door to door, and it is insured for its full value the whole way.
Is When Light Hurts still available?: Yes, When Light Hurts by Phaedra is available to buy at VanArtHub as of today. It is a one-of-a-kind original, so there is only one of it and it is gone once it sells.
What if my taste changes after buying When Light Hurts?: VanArtHub offers a Lifetime Trade-Back. You can trade When Light Hurts back to the gallery at any time, with no deadline, and put the credit toward a different original. Because every piece is one of a kind, the trade-back is what lets a collection change over the years without a loss.

How Your Artwork is Packaged

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Exceptional Service and a Truly Memorable Art Purchase

I had a wonderful experience with Van Art Hub Gallery. I came across two pieces by Melina Ghaemi — *Mad Mirrors* and *Small World in the Hands of a Stranger* — and immediately fell in love with them.

I contacted Van Art Hub Gallery, and they were incredibly helpful throughout the entire process, from arranging the payment to organizing the shipping. At first, I was a little skeptical and nervous about how everything would work, especially since the paintings were still in Iran and it was shortly after the war. But the gallery handled everything with such professionalism and care that my concerns quickly disappeared. Amazingly, they were able to get the paintings to Canada in just two days!

The pieces are absolutely captivating. Even when I picked them up from the frame maker and was simply carrying them to my car, several people stopped and asked me about the paintings. That says a lot about how striking and special Melina Ghaemi’s work is.

A big thank you to Van Art Hub Gallery for making this experience so smooth and enjoyable. I truly appreciated their professionalism, communication, honesty, and integrity throughout the entire process. I would happily work with them again and highly recommend them to anyone interested in purchasing art through the gallery.

Very good work

I got my order today and your work is really good. I didn’t expect to get a certificate for this painting, it was a surprise. Thanks for caring about small details.

Worth the wait

The support team was really helpful and followed up nicely, wich I really appreciated. The painting is just like the photo – great quality and very detalied. I just wish it arrived a bit sooner, but honestly it was worth the wait.

Rania

I received my painting today. The support team was great and very responsive. The artwork is exactly what I was hoping for – even more beautifull in person. Truly a valuable piece. I’ll definetely order again. Thank you!

Nicely done

I received the package. Although it arrived a bit late, I was happy to see the piece. It’s well done and carefully made. Thank you.

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When Light Hurts: Original Colored Pencil on Artboard by Phaedra | VanArtHub

The story behind this piece

Shipping, trial and returns