Saint Helices 1, 3" x 5", acrylic on paper, 1989. Artist's collection.

This is the first of the 80+ Saint Helices compositions. This is actually a painting from a pencil sketch that I still have--somewhere.

I was intrigued by the simplicity of the design, also the complexity of how the dark and light areas of the composition switch back and forth from spatially positive to negative pictorial elements. The light and dark forms switch their spatial character by how they are perceived as relating to the central (diagonal) edge forms. The edge forms, even in light of their abstract nature, suggested narrative elements such as a specific wave of energy, a line of beings, or personas.

My previous interests in formal abstraction, chiaroscuro, and narrative, were all married in this little painting. After I had completed this painting, I thought it would be interesting to paint another one to see where it would take me.