Beloved Tien 

Julie Bell, born in 1958, created this painting titled ‘Beloved Tien’ using oil paint. Notice how the composition is structured around the stark contrast between light and shadow, with the animal emerging from a dark, almost undefined background. Bell’s emphasis on texture is evident in her rendering of the animal’s fur. The layering of brushstrokes and the subtle gradations of color give the fur a tactile quality, inviting us to imagine its softness and density. The play of light across the animal's face highlights its features, particularly the eye, which seems to hold a deep, knowing gaze. This formal focus allows for an examination of the boundaries between realism and emotional expression. The contrast between the illuminated areas and the surrounding darkness enhances the animal’s presence, but it also invites us to consider the liminal space between the known and the unknown, the seen and the unseen.