Procession; the act of Guiding 2021

Lanise Howard made this painting, "Procession; the act of Guiding" with an airbrush, I think. Look at those seamlessly blended colors. It’s like witnessing a slow, graceful dance of pigment across the surface. You see a lot of labor, I mean love, in the smooth gradients of the sky, as it shifts from blue to peach, a dreamy backdrop that feels both expansive and intimate. There’s this hand, see, that rests on the subject’s shoulder. It’s almost ghostly, in that the edges are so soft. It looks like a form emerging from a mist. I love how it contrasts with the clean, sharp lines of the lotus leaves. That hand is a gentle suggestion, a guiding presence, a reminder of connection and support. This piece reminds me of Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s work, where personal stories and cultural histories meld into one. Howard is also part of that conversation, weaving narratives of identity, guidance, and quiet strength.