Emerald Pools

Haleh Mashian

Mixed media on canvas

60 x 60 in” (152.4 x 152.4 cm)

Haleh Mashian’s “Emerald Pools” is a mesmerizing symphony of color and texture, a painting that captures the restless beauty of water in motion. Unlike the ethereal cascades of “Freefall II” or the joyful droplets of “Rain Dance I”, this work immerses the viewer in the profound depth of a natural expanse—water as a force, as a reflection, as an ever-changing presence.

At first glance, the composition is a study in movement. The textured strokes, layered and sculptural, evoke the churning rhythms of an untamed tide. The upper portion of the painting is rich with deep jewel tones—emerald greens, sapphire blues, and hints of violet—creating a sense of depth reminiscent of an ocean’s hidden mysteries. As the eye travels downward, the colors lighten, breaking into frothy whites and sandy neutrals, suggesting the meeting of water and land, the moment where movement dissolves into stillness.

Mashian’s use of texture is particularly compelling. The impasto application of paint gives the surface a dynamic, almost three-dimensional presence, allowing light to interact with the ridges and valleys of the canvas. This technique heightens the illusion of water’s ebb and flow, as if the painting itself breathes, caught between expansion and retreat. Mashian invites the viewer to embrace this sense of fluidity—not just as a visual experience, but as a metaphor for life’s ever-changing nature. There is solace in this rhythm, a reminder that even in constant motion, there is balance, beauty, and renewal.

“Emerald Pools” invites contemplation, that lulls the viewer into its rhythmic pulse, reminding us that in both nature and life, there is undeniable beauty in constant change.