Brave Seas 

"Brave Seas" by Sarah Joncas is rendered with careful detail using acrylic on wood panel. The choice of wood is interesting. It lends a warmth and slight texture to the surface, subtly contrasting with the cool, dreamlike quality of the imagery. Consider the labor involved in preparing such a panel: the selection, sawing, sanding, and priming, all before the first brushstroke. Joncas has used the acrylic medium in a way that mimics the smooth, layered effects of oil paint, but with a quicker drying time that allows for efficient layering and precise detail. This method allows the artist to create sharp lines and soft gradients and to add detailed elements like the individual strands of hair, or the intricate wave patterns. The juxtaposition of careful planning and spontaneous mark-making gives the artwork a captivating tension. The artist encourages us to consider the act of creation itself, as a conscious and deliberate process.