Cover | Father Poulin
Autumn Glory (acrylic on canvas). Father Poulin is a Camaldolese monk and artist who lives at Incarnation Monastery in Berkeley. In a style he calls “contemplative,” Poulin builds his landscapes on black canvases, applying up to 25 layers of black gesso before outlining his drawings in white chalk. He then adds layer after layer of color, first with broad strokes, then with ever-smaller brushes. “While I was painting Autumn Glory it became both a Jewish and Christian symbol for me: the burning bush of Moses and an incarnational image of the Trinity,” explains Poulin. “In both cases, the leaves and branches of this mysterious, sacred tree become like flames radiating divine energy, light and life.” For information about Poulin’s original paintings, contact the artist at (510) 845-0601. His work is on exhibit Oct. 4 through Nov. 4 at the I. Wolk Gallery in St. Helena, Napa Valley, (707) 963-8800; www.iwolkgallery.com.
