Evening Aflame 2016

Rose Freymuth-Frazier made "Evening Aflame" with oil paint, and what grabs me first is the way color creates mood, like it’s not just describing a sunset, but how a sunset *feels*. The paint is applied in layers, thin enough that the light seems to glow from within. There are smudges and soft edges, and that makes the whole scene feel like a memory, hazy but intense. Look at the way the trees are suggested, dark silhouettes against the fiery sky. It’s not about detail, it’s about catching a fleeting moment. There's a freedom to Freymuth-Frazier's handling of paint that reminds me of some of Turner's atmospheric landscapes. Both artists share an interest in capturing the sublime effects of light and weather, but where Turner is dramatic and grandiose, Freymuth-Frazier feels more intimate and personal. Ultimately, both artists invite us to contemplate the power and beauty of the natural world, and our place within it.