31 1961

This painting, titled "31" by Benny Andrews, feels like a personal encounter rendered with oil. The colours are muted, mostly browns and off-whites, which gives it a kind of aged, nostalgic feel. I’m drawn to the way Andrews handles paint. It's not smooth, but textural, like he's building up layers of feeling as much as image. Look at the hand resting on the table. Each finger is distinct, almost like individual sculptures, yet they merge into a single gesture. The surface is built up with short strokes, which creates a sense of depth and weight. Andrews's approach reminds me of Bob Thompson, both artists finding ways to explore the figure through a deeply personal lens, where the process of painting is as important as the subject itself. Art is like a conversation, a continuing dialogue across time and practice, about how we see and feel the world.