“The Crossing”, encaustic and oil on 16”x20” wood panel, March, 2011, by Terry Lopez
I created this piece with the 32 mile Molokai paddleboard crossing solely in mind. My husband Victor Lopez and my son Shaun Lopez along with many friends here in Hawaii and the mainland have completed this race across the Ka’iwi Channel between Molokai and Oahu many times. Hearing them talk about their experiences was inspiring to me to try and capture the essence of that race in my work. Talk of the roles the pertinent currents, winds, tides, and the moon cycle all play in the direction of the course taken on race day, as well as, how far away the Makapuu Point Mountains appear on the horizon, if at all, as it slowly come into focus during the crossing. For so many paddlers and watermen, this race is their Mt. Everest; making this crossing seems to be a rite of passage that challenges them on so many levels. This feeling of the race was what I was trying to capture in this piece, “The Crossing”.
I received an MFA in drawing and painting from California State University at Fullerton where I also taught foundation painting and drawing classes for several years before returning to Maui in 2009. I have also had my work shown in various group, solo, and juried shows in both California and Hawaii as well as in numerous private collections. I currently am teaching at the Hui No’eau Visual Arts center in Makawao, Maui, Hawaii where I also live with my husband, Victor Lopez. We have two grown children Allyson Lopez-Eckert and Shaun Lopez, and three grand-daughters—all of them waterpeople.
My Website is www.terrylopezart.com
