The Whale 2017

Bo Bartlett made "The Whale" with paint on canvas, though when I look at it, I feel like I'm gazing into a memory. The way he works with color is just beautiful, those soft blues and pinks, very dreamlike. There's something about the surface that’s so smooth, it almost feels like glass. You can't see his brushstrokes, it's like he's trying to hide his process, which is interesting to me, since my own work is all about revealing it. What I find most striking is the plume of water spouting from the whale in the distance. It's like a secret shared between these figures, a fleeting moment of wonder. This detail transforms an everyday scene into something magical and surreal. It reminds me of those quiet, introspective paintings by Edward Hopper, but with a touch of whimsy. The title invites us to look beyond what is represented, and to embrace ambiguity.