WINDWARD: 16x20 (520 pieces) Puzzle

You're never too young and never too old for enjoying some time away from the screens and gathering around a table to put some pieces together. Designed with a glossy finish and original artworks from Jennifer S. Levine, these puzzles are a perfect past time to sooth the soul.

ABOUT THE PAINTING:

WINDWARD: Acrylic on canvas, 14 x 11 IN.

Regardless of the timing when this was finished, this piece was not inspired by the movie “Dune”. This piece was actually inspired by the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. I had lived in Colorado for decades and this place, the tallest sand dunes in North America, had always been on my bucket list. Like so many things and places I’ve wanted to do, life got in the way… that said, Covid gave us all room to stop and car camp so finally got to witness this grand vista and stomp in the sand.

Even with the wind slapping our faces, it was a  purely joyous experience. There were families with sleds gliding down the slopes, picnics being had, couples laughing… 150,000 acres of pure joy and we only trekked to barely past the perimeter. I’ve been mesmerized by that trip ever since, hoping to return. I want to be better prepared, take a sled or cardboard. I want study the shadows and bathe in the sun, just beach it for a bit. But, until that return, I revisited it in this painting.

The idea of the wind moving those sandy mountains is fascinating so I read up a bit on wind movement and terms. A geographic surface facing the wind is called WINDWARD. The backside of that surface is called LEEWARD. The windward side on sand dunes is the smooth and flowing slopes while the leeward side is where the sand has the steep drop-offs. It makes sense because the wind is building up the sand then it gets too heavy so falls. There’s some life metaphor about the side facing the most resistance has the most beauty but I’ll let whoever is reading this sort it out…