Jieun Beth Forest 2015

Felice House made this painting of Jieun Beth in what looks like an oil based medium, some time in the late 20th Century. The way House has handled the paint here is really interesting; it’s neither thin and washy nor thickly impastoed, but sits somewhere in between. In the portrait, the tones are built up gradually through visible brush marks. The mark-making feels intuitive, like House is enjoying the process of building up the image bit by bit, and not rushing to a finish. If you look at the forest background, you can see how the slightly rough texture of the canvas shows through, and adds to the overall depth and mood. The blues in the background really set the tone, reminding me of Marsden Hartley's landscapes, in that they are slightly melancholic but full of life. Art is one big conversation, right? Anyway, this is just one reading.