Covered one 2021

Lanise Howard made this painting, ‘Covered one’, at some point in her life, using oil paints. The painting is all about layering, not just of paint but of meanings, too. The sheer veil that drapes over the sitter’s head is an interesting contrast with the fact she is also wearing very contemporary glasses, which makes me think about how artists use clothing to convey a mood or character. The colors, especially in the border, are muted, chalky, and feel deliberately limited. I’m thinking about that border, and how the blocks of color there are echoed in the background. It’s almost like Howard is laying down building blocks for the portrait and the world it inhabits, and the portrait is a way to show how those building blocks can be transformed into something vital. I see references to Lynette Yiadom-Boakye in the tonality of the sitter’s skin, and the bold composition. Ultimately, ‘Covered One’ is a space for multiple conversations to occur all at once.