Camouflage 2010

Marina Pallares made this acrylic painting, *Camouflage*, with an intriguing approach to color and form. It's less about the final image and more about the process of layering and obscuring, creating a vibrant surface that almost vibrates with energy. I love how Pallares has built up the image through countless small marks. Look at the surface of the cat’s face. See how the green is made up of so many small strokes, each one slightly different? It’s like she's building up the form, not defining it with outlines but through the sheer accumulation of marks. The fish are placed in a shallow depth of field, almost floating in this sea of green vegetation. The composition reminds me a little bit of Rousseau, or perhaps Frida Kahlo – the way they both constructed these dreamlike, surreal spaces. What is the cat camouflaged from? Does it feel safe, or is it hunting for its next meal? I don't know the answer, and I'm not sure I want to!