Amazon 2006

Bo Bartlett made this painting, Amazon, most likely with oil paints. There’s something so intriguing about the way Bartlett builds up the surfaces of his paintings. The paint isn't overly thick, but it has a definite materiality, a real presence. Look at the building: the way the light hits it, how he's captured the feeling of the afternoon sun. It’s not just about depicting a building; it's about capturing a mood, a moment in time. Notice the way he handles the trees to the right; they're almost like dark sentinels, standing guard. The way the dark undergrowth creeps up the bottom third of the canvas. I'm reminded of other realist painters like Edward Hopper and Fairfield Porter. Their influence is evident in the way Bartlett uses light and shadow to create a sense of atmosphere and drama. Art's like a big conversation, right?