Nick 

Tania Rivilis’s oil painting, Nick, is a contemporary work that uses traditional materials to capture a sitter in a moment of languid repose. The most striking aspect of this painting is its vibrant color and texture. Rivilis applies the oil paint in thick, impastoed strokes, building up layers of pigment to create a surface that is almost sculptural. Notice how the orange background hums with energy, contrasting with the cooler blues of the striped fabric. The material properties of oil paint allow Rivilis to achieve this rich, tactile effect. Unlike the smooth, blended surfaces often associated with classical painting, here the artist embraces the viscosity and opacity of the medium. The brushstrokes are visible, revealing the artist's hand and the labor involved in the production process. This directness challenges traditional hierarchies between fine art and craft, where skill and technique are often downplayed in favor of artistic genius. Ultimately, Rivilis's painting reminds us that the meaning of an artwork is not just in the image, but in the materials and the making.