Morning Nectar 2013

Bernadette Resha made Morning Nectar with what looks like watercolor or maybe gouache, and it feels like such a direct invitation into a moment. I love how the yellows and purples vibrate off each other, giving a real energy to the scene. And check out that hummingbird, almost collaged onto the surface with its rough white border. It's like Resha's playing with different levels of reality here, and making the most of the paint’s ability to both describe and invent. There's a loose quality to the brushwork, but also a clear sense of observation. The way the light catches the edges of those purple petals. It reminds me a little of Elizabeth Murray, someone else who wasn't afraid to mix up representation and abstraction, but really, Resha has her own thing going on. It’s a joyful, slightly odd, and totally captivating little painting.