Cow and the Narwhal 

Scott Fraser, born in 1957, crafted this still life, "Cow and the Narwhal," with oil on panel. Immediately, you're struck by the composition, a study in contrasts. The cow, a sturdy figure with its segmented legs and playful spots, stands opposite the streamlined narwhal. The artist masterfully employs color to direct our gaze. The warm yellow of the fish atop the narwhal draws us in, a stark contrast to the cooler greens and whites that dominate the scene. This juxtaposition creates a visual tension, a sense of playful unease. Fraser toys with scale too. These are toys, yet their placement and the meticulous detail elevate them, demanding our attention. Fraser’s formalism transcends mere representation. The interplay of geometric forms against organic shapes establishes a visual language, a system where each element is a signifier. The cow with its rigid stance, for example, might symbolize groundedness, while the narwhal, with its whimsical fish, could represent the fluidity of imagination. It is a dialogue between order and whimsy.