Pali at Dawn

The rays of early dawn shine through the cloud cover on the dramatic fingers of the Ko‘olau Mountains of Windward O‘ahu. The light falls on the Pali highlighting the rugged mountain crevices in contrast to the soft green valleys below. Gloria Foss was renowned in Japan and Honolulu as a masterful artist, teacher, and author who shared her knowledge of painting and color theory with over 1500 adult students. As the wife of an Air Force officer, she lived in many areas of the United States and Japan then settled in Honolulu where she founded the Foss School of Fine Arts and began publishing books on her painting and teaching principles.This accurate and atmospheric landscape reflects Foss’ stunning use of chiaroscuro — light and shadow — and her velvety hues of green, brown, and violet as the sunrise sweeps over the Pali.