After Examination 2017

Lucy Ivanova's *After Examination* is a dance of color, a tender exploration painted in what looks like acrylic on canvas. I imagine her, brush in hand, circling the easel, coaxing this world into being. The palette here is so interesting. The blues are like a wistful sigh, meeting the blacks. The greens seem to climb out from the canvas, vibrant and alive, pushing against the figure sitting quietly on a stool. I sympathize with the painter in their examination of figure and form in space. I'm drawn to the way Ivanova handles paint. It's neither too thick, nor too thin, but just right, with delicate strokes that build up the image. The edges of things soften and blur as you look at them. The surface seems to breathe, inviting us to look closer. There’s a conversation happening here, not just within the painting, but with all the painters who have come before, and those yet to come, each adding their voice to the endless dialogue of art. Each one of us just trying to get it right, and have some fun along the way.