Storm’s Tranquility 2019

Michael Cheval painted this surreal oil painting, Storm’s Tranquility, with colours that feel like a sunset after a storm, all warm hues that clash with the cool blues of the sea. It's as if each brushstroke builds an entire world, layer by layer, dream by dream. The texture of the painting is something to behold; the waves seem to churn, and the sky swirls with clouds so tangible you could almost reach out and touch them. Look at the way the light catches the edges of the waves, each little glint a testament to the artist's attention to detail. Notice how the figure in the foreground holds a fan, its intricate details a tiny world mirroring the vastness of the sea behind her. It's an incredible feat of technique, but there is something playful and disorientating about it too. Cheval’s playful surrealism reminds me of Magritte, where everyday objects are rendered uncanny and unsettling, making us question the very fabric of our reality. Art at its best doesn't give us easy answers, it invites us into a space of wonder and uncertainty.