Geometric Valentine

13 in x 21 in

2/2026

“Geometric Valentine” celebrates love with structure and symmetry.  Pinks, whites and reds were used in a range of intensities through a range of temperatures to depict “love” as a spectrum rather than as a single note.  I added a lot of texture to the piece to give interest and also to suggest the play of light on cut stone, as might appear in a faceted jewel.  Repeated diamond shapes evoke the classic gemstone given to loved ones.  Some shapes appear smooth and flat, while others are visibly impastoed or stippled to add richness. In a sense, the alternation between matte and shimmering, smooth and rough, sets up a dialogue between idealized love and its real, sometimes abrasive surfaces. The painting therefore is not just decorative geometry, but an exploration of how order and complexity, polish and irregularity, coexist with intimacy.  The radial symmetry suggests that underneath the cultural trappings of the annual Valentine’s day holiday lies a set of enduring structures—patterns of attraction, reciprocity, vulnerability—that can be celebrated artistically.