This borrowed earth 

Mary Jane Ansell painted "This Borrowed Earth" with oil on canvas. It's a traditional approach, yet the way she handles it is anything but conventional. The smooth, almost porcelain-like finish she achieves speaks to a deep understanding of the medium. The process involves layering thin glazes of paint, building up tone and texture with remarkable precision. Look closely, and you'll see how she teases out subtle variations in color, creating a sense of depth and realism that borders on hyperreal. The choice of oil paint is itself significant. It's a material steeped in history, associated with the grand tradition of European painting. Ansell is engaging with this legacy, while also subverting it. The title, "This Borrowed Earth," and the juxtaposition of the young woman holding a miniature earth, with the Union Jack flag in the background invites us to consider questions of legacy, land, and the earth itself. It's a potent reminder that even the most time-honored materials can be used to explore contemporary issues.