Sarah Reading 

John Michael Carter made "Sarah Reading" with oil on canvas. The materiality of oil paint, with its inherent viscosity and luminosity, fundamentally shapes the artwork's character. Carter's impasto technique, where paint is thickly laid on the canvas, gives a tactile quality, almost as if the scene is sculpted. Observe how the layering of paint creates a vibrant surface, capturing the shifting light and shadow. The artist has not tried to disguise the fact that this is, fundamentally, made with strokes of paint. You can almost feel the artist’s hand at work, applying layer upon layer to build up the forms and textures. Note the patterns and the bold brushwork, which convey a sense of movement and energy. Carter engages with a long tradition of oil painting, while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of realism. The work invites us to consider the labor involved in its making, and to reflect on how the choice of materials and techniques can infuse an artwork with meaning.