Sun Block 

Curator: The brushstrokes are wonderfully immediate! It reminds me of summers spent on family vacations at the shore. It has that nostalgic haze of sun-drenched days. Editor: I appreciate that spontaneous read. We're looking at a canvas titled "Sun Block" by Jeff Jamison. The painting uses acrylic paint in what appears to be a plein-air approach. You can practically feel the immediacy of capturing a scene outdoors. Curator: Plein-air... Yes, I get that! Looking closer, it’s the technique that gives the work its lively energy, like a fleeting moment caught in paint. The brushstrokes describing the figures are chunky. I find myself focusing on the raw pigment. I'm drawn to the contrast between the cool blues of the ocean and the warmer tones used for the beach umbrellas. Editor: Exactly! Let's consider how this artist captures leisure, consumption, and the materiality of acrylic. The beach umbrellas appear more like hastily applied pigment than accurate depictions of reality, yet they block harmful UV rays allowing carefree experiences for many folks in a relatively privileged position. And even the paint application—layer upon layer of polymer—protects the canvas. I'm also curious about the labor aspect; the act of painting on-site... hauling the canvas, easels and mixing colors while battling sand and sunlight... It adds another layer of understanding. Curator: I love how the bright color palette suggests playfulness, yet there's also an undercurrent of tension in the composition. Some shapes are more gestural suggestions, but their presence suggests their relevance in this carefully constructed artificial, sheltered microclimate on the shore. You are on the sunny sand, and it's also... not. There are a number of formal dichotomies presented that trigger an intuitive understanding beyond an innocent figurative landscape painting. Editor: That’s an interesting read. The way Jamison depicts people using these vibrant, saturated acrylics feels modern, as if we’re consuming pigments rather than just representing a scene of sunbathing, labor, and protection on the shoreline. Curator: It’s more than the consumption. We consume experience, memories of beach time, all delivered through the economical application of colorful matter. Thanks for prompting a closer look. Editor: My pleasure. Viewing through a lens of materials and labor always unveils some hidden depth.