Red Bed Sheets 2014

William Balthazar Rose made ‘Red Bed Sheets’ with what looks like oils, and a whole lot of feeling. I love the commitment to that red! The texture in this piece really grabs me. It’s thick, almost sculptural in places, especially in those red sheets. You can practically feel the weight of the paint, the energy of the brushstrokes. The way Rose builds up the surface, it’s like he’s wrestling with the medium, trying to capture something elusive. Look at how the light catches the peaks and valleys of the impasto! It’s not just about depicting a figure on a bed; it’s about the act of painting itself, the struggle and the joy of transforming material into something meaningful. That hand, resting on the red, is so delicate in contrast. This feels like a collision of Van Gogh's intensity and maybe a touch of early Picasso, but definitely filtered through Rose's own unique vision. Art's always a conversation, right? A push and pull. It's not about answers; it's about embracing the questions.