Kandy Kane Rainbow 1994

Charles Bell made this painting, Kandy Kane Rainbow, at an unknown date, using a realist style. It’s like he's playing with us, teasing our eyes with these glass marbles. The way he captures the light is just stunning. Look at the central marble, it's got this rainbow swirl inside and the way it bends the light feels almost edible, like candy. It’s pure indulgence, sugary and joyful. Bell's not hiding the paint, you can see how he's layering it, building up these super smooth surfaces. It's almost like sculpture, he's crafting these objects with such care. This feels very close to the work of Gerhard Richter in his realist mode, but there's a playfulness, like Wayne Thiebaud's cake paintings, but instead of baked goods, it’s toys. It feels like a celebration of seeing, of childhood, and of the pure pleasure of color.