When I paint—true to my Brazilian heritage—I work with deep, bold, earthy colors, sensual textures, and strong, rhythmic forms. Drawing upon mythical, archetypal dimensions, my art connects viewers to realms of primitive, instinctual consciousness. When I'm photographing, I'm still an abstract painter. The way the interplay of light and water creates shapes, the dance of light on water, the translucent sky, the fluid, ever-shifting mystery of water itself—these moments inspire me to create paintings with my camera.
On October 22nd, I collaborated with Mara Alper at the Finger Lakes Bioneers’ conference in Ithaca. My slide show Hymn to Water was part of an evening presentation about the world of water. I was happy to share my vision of the imagery of water through my photography of the Finger Lakes.
© Helena Cooper 2010
