Red Hurricane 1969

Ronnie Landfield seems to have made "Red Hurricane" with layers of semi-transparent acrylic, a testament to letting the painting process be visible. The bottom horizontal band, with its thick impasto, provides a grounded counterpoint to the airy washes of color above. There’s a juicy quality to the paint, like a glaze, and the way it’s built up from thin to thick is kind of seductive. The colors—reds, pinks, and creams—blend into each other, creating a sense of movement and fluidity. I am drawn to the top right where a soft, off-white merges with a vibrant rose, it's as if the artist has captured the fleeting moment when the sky transforms during sunset. Landfield’s "Red Hurricane" recalls the Color Field paintings of Helen Frankenthaler, but with a warmer, more intimate feel. Both artists allow their colors to breathe and bleed into one another, but Landfield's use of texture adds a tactile dimension that invites a closer look. Art is like a conversation, and this painting speaks volumes about the power of color and texture to evoke emotion.