Katrina 

Neale Worley’s painting, “Katrina,” is made with oil on canvas, a medium with a long and complex history. Worley engages with a tradition of figurative painting that stretches back centuries. The oil paint allows him to capture the nuances of light and shadow on the model's skin, and the drapery in the background. Look closely, and you'll see that the visible brushstrokes give the painting a tactile quality. Oil paint is, in essence, a crafted material, a blend of pigment and oil, demanding patience and skill from the artist. This process is a slow one. Each layer of paint must dry before the next can be applied. This considered process contrasts sharply with our contemporary culture of instant gratification, inviting us to slow down and appreciate the labor and time involved in the creation of this image. By focusing on the material and making of this artwork, we can challenge the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft, revealing the inherent value of skilled labor and the beauty of traditional materials.