Jewel 2018

Vincent Xeus made this painting, Jewel, with what looks like oil paint, and it's all about building up these layers of color. Look at how the pinks and greens kinda vibrate against each other! The paint is applied pretty thick, like you can almost feel the texture. There’s this push-and-pull between what's in focus and what's just suggested. Like, the face is fairly clear, but then everything around it dissolves into these loose, gestural marks. Check out the way the brushstrokes around the neck just sort of blend into the background. It’s like he's not trying to hide the process at all, but rather letting it be part of the story. It reminds me a little of Alice Neel in the way it captures a likeness but with such a painterly touch. It's a reminder that art is always an ongoing conversation!