Helen Before the Storm

48” X 48” X 1.5”

Acrylic on Canvas

I began this piece with a large triangular shape as the central figure, then organically mapped out the remainder of the layout. I executed the painting in an abstract, mountainous landscape style, employing an exaggerated woodsy palette and juxtaposed a fiery sunset against a moody night sky. I treated adjacent shapes in a uniform manner, akin to a checkerboard pattern. This approach yielded consistent, visual theme throughout the composition. Furthermore, I incorporated an interrupted black and white checkered border, which, unlike a continuous border, imparted a more dynamic appearance to the design. Reflection on my "Three Sisters" series, a trio of mountain peaks, led me to contemplate a pivotal event in 1980. The title, inspired  by that event, came to me during the painting stage, where I blocked in the fundamental earthy colors.