Vashon Ferry 2005

Bo Bartlett painted "Vashon Ferry" with what looks like oil paint, creating this super smooth surface. I love how the colors blend in this piece, especially in the girl's face and jacket. It feels like the paint was applied in thin layers, almost like watercolor, allowing the colors to subtly shift and merge. The brushwork is so delicate, it's barely visible, which gives the painting a soft, dreamlike quality. Look at the way the light hits her face and how he has used this to suggest a sense of depth and volume with very subtle gradations. It’s a reminder that painting is as much about seeing as it is about doing. This work kind of reminds me of Andrew Wyeth, someone who was also great at capturing these quiet, contemplative moments. Ultimately, art is just this ongoing conversation, a constant exchange of ideas that leaves so much room for our own interpretations.