Far Above the World 2021

Carrie Graber painted ‘Far Above the World’ to, I suspect, create a portal to somewhere new. The colors here feel precise but inviting, with yellows, whites, and blacks all combining in ways which create the impression of peering out from a cool space onto something sun-drenched and warm. I'm drawn to how Graber handles paint—very precisely. The hard edges of the architecture create sharp divisions within the composition, and this contrasts with the more rounded forms within the interior, which are softer and more organic. My eye is drawn to the plants in the foreground. These give the impression of almost being caught in the sunlight. This piece reminds me a little of Wayne Thiebaud, particularly his paintings of Californian suburbs. Both artists have a common interest in the construction of scenes, with an interest in composition and the interplay of light and shadow. Ultimately, art is about conversation and a conversation is what this painting triggers, within the viewer. It’s about possibility.