Sister Cearuleum 2020

This is ‘Sister Cearuleum’ by Camilla d’Errico, a painting of a girl surrounded by blue creatures. The picture shimmers with blues, from the pale sky backdrop to the deep indigo of the lobster she cradles. Imagine d’Errico building up these layers, the work emerging in a way that feels both dreamlike and deliberate. I bet she's thinking about how we relate to animals. I look at this and think about those early Surrealists, like Leonora Carrington, who mixed human and animal forms. Look how the texture of each creature is carefully rendered—the feathery softness of the blue jay and the smooth skin of the frogs perched on her head. The girl’s gaze is wide and knowing. The whole thing has a kind of melancholic sweetness that reminds me of Mark Ryden and other painters who work with Big Eye art, and also a touch of outsider art. All these artists are in an ongoing conversation, and in painting there is always an exchange of ideas. It's a world where ambiguity is embraced, inviting endless readings.