In Bermuda 1939

Prudence Heward painted this Bermuda scene with oils, probably en plein air. You can almost feel the artist's hand shifting and pushing the paint to bring this scene into being. I love the dark purples and browns Heward uses to create a tropical paradise, which could feel gaudy but instead feels powerful and alive. The dark colors give it an almost ominous feeling. I wonder what it was like to stand in the heat and paint this, what she was thinking, if she was hot and bothered, or refreshed by the scene. The physicality of oil paint makes this more than just a picture; it is an object, a surface, a record of a moment. The brushstrokes are clearly visible, especially in the dark foliage. This reminds me of Emily Carr's thickly painted nature scenes from the west coast. Artists are always in conversation, riffing on each other's approaches, inspiring new ways of seeing. This painting is an invitation to see the world in a new way, without answers but with endless possibilities.