Sesen Moon 2021

Editor: This is "Sesen Moon," an oil painting from 2021 by Lanise Howard. I’m struck by how the soft pink lotus blossoms pop against the deep green background; it feels very dreamlike. How would you interpret this work? Curator: The composition is immediately striking. Howard’s placement of the lotuses creates a clear visual rhythm. Note how the artist leads our eye through the various stages of the lotus lifecycle – from bud to bloom, culminating in the seed pod. What do you observe about the use of light? Editor: Well, the moon, though small, is very bright. It casts this ethereal glow, highlighting the texture of the petals. Curator: Precisely. The artist’s application of impasto, particularly visible on the petals and leaves, introduces a tactile quality, further emphasizing the interplay between light and shadow. It moves beyond pure representation, towards evoking a feeling. Notice how the limited color palette contributes to this feeling. How would you describe it? Editor: I'd say tranquil. I think it definitely enhances the dreamlike, almost surreal atmosphere you pointed out earlier. Curator: Indeed. Howard seems to prioritize the emotional resonance of form and color over strict realism. It allows the artist to convey a deeper symbolic significance through visual means alone. What a lovely and powerful visual composition. Editor: It's interesting to consider how much the emotional impact comes just from color, texture, and arrangement, independent of what the image represents. Thanks for breaking that down.