President Bill Clinton 2006

Here’s this huge portrait of Bill Clinton by Chuck Close, made with paint and, I imagine, a heck of a lot of patience. I can’t help but think about what it was like for Close to make this. It’s almost like he’s built it from scratch, bit by bit, like making a mosaic. He's known for using this grid-like structure in his portraits, which breaks the image down into these little abstract cells. Each little square has its own little world of color and texture, but when you take a step back, they all come together and—bam—it's Bill. For me, this feels like a real feat of seeing, thinking, and making all rolled into one. I can't help but think of other artists who have embraced unusual methods, like how Alma Thomas made paintings from dabs of color. It’s all about slowing down and seeing how these gestures can come together. And how we can keep pushing what painting can do.