"The Beast" by Allie Nahorniak

Allie Nahorniak is an abstract acrylic painter inspired by the woods she grew up in. A nature lover, her goal as an artist is to garner appreciation for the environment and the wildlife that inhabit it.

"The Beast" (October 2024) • 3' x 1' • Acrylic on canvas • About the artwork, from the artist: The Beast is a celebration of mutation. Mutations in the wild can be fatal, but for the melanistic jaguar, the shadowy jungles in which they reside allow them to thrive alongside their golden counterparts. They are the same animal, yet they use their environment differently, beautifully encapsulating the adaptability of life.

My intention with the composition of this piece is to make the viewer feel as though they are looking up at the jaguar as it climbs down a tree. The perspective, along with the shape of the canvas, allowed me to capture the jaguar's entire back, which dons the animal’s iconic pattern. While melanistic jaguars may appear solid black, proper lighting reveals their spots, so I went for a half-lit figure to exaggerate this feature.

Volume One finds its cover art in a number of ways, from local art shows to random emails to knowing someone who knows someone who knows a great artist. The art always originates from a current or former Chippewa Valley resident. If you'd like to submit cover art, send us a message.