Venus 

Troy Brooks made this compelling painting, Venus, using oil on canvas. The surreal composition evokes a sense of otherworldly elegance, achieved with masterful skill in blending and shading. Oil paint, a traditional medium, allows Brooks to build up layers of color, creating a rich, luminous surface, yet this isn't a traditional use of the medium, as seen in fine art. The smooth surface of the canvas and the way Brooks manipulates the oil paint emphasizes the figure's ethereal quality. Look at how the artist pays particular attention to details like the bird-like feet piercing through the surface of the globe, the sharp claws, and the delicate shading on the figure’s pale skin, heightening the figure's vulnerability. The amount of time and effort required for this level of detail suggests Brooks’ dedication to his craft and the narrative he wishes to convey. By combining elements of classical painting with surreal and unsettling imagery, Brooks blurs the lines between high art and illustration, inviting us to reconsider conventional notions of beauty and form.