Warrior Maiden 2017

Jana Brike made this painting of a 'Warrior Maiden,' and the way she handles the oil paint is interesting - it’s smooth, almost like egg tempera, which gives it a kind of otherworldly feel. I find myself drawn to the sky, Brike has created a real sense of depth with those storm clouds rolling in. You can almost feel the wind and hear the waves crashing. The surface is built up in layers, but it's so subtle. It reminds me of early Renaissance painting. There's a real sense of light and atmosphere here, not quite photorealism but not impressionistic either. See the way the colours shift in the waves, how the shades of blue change? This piece reminds me a little of Paula Rego who also explores themes of girlhood and power in her work. Both artists seem to enjoy playing with ambiguity, leaving us to piece together our own stories.