Bouquet of flowers 1960

Kateryna Bilokur painted this riotous "Bouquet of Flowers" using oils, and you can just feel the brush dancing across the canvas. Imagine Bilokur, setting up her easel, maybe in a sun-drenched garden, surrounded by the real deal. The colours! They almost vibrate off the canvas – a mix of blues, reds, and whites, all jostling for attention. Look at the way she builds up the layers, thin washes that create depth and a sense of light. I wonder if she ever felt like stopping or whether she had to wrestle it all into place. I can almost see her, squinting, tilting her head, making a quick, deliberate stroke. These paintings make me think about the ongoing conversation between artists, a visual call-and-response across time. Bilokur is speaking to us, and we, in turn, respond with our own interpretations. And that's what makes painting so alive, so full of potential.