Deep Sea 

Curator: This is "Deep Sea," an acrylic painting by Sarah Joncas, characterized by the artist's pop-surrealist style and emphasis on the female figure. Editor: My initial reaction is that this is really… calming, almost melancholic. That cool blue just washes over you. It’s so monochromatic, you know? Like something remembered. Curator: Joncas uses acrylic paint here with remarkable control, building up layers to create a sense of depth and luminescence. Note the bubbles that are seemingly floating around the figure's hair, emphasizing the submersion in a way that marries representation with the medium itself. Editor: Those bubbles...they give her hair this ethereal quality, like stardust clinging to her. She looks weightless, floating in that deep, endless blue. Is she a spirit, a dream, a mermaid perhaps? Curator: Joncas often explores themes of vulnerability and power in her figuration, and the use of blue here—achieved through a specific application and blending of the acrylic—reinforces a feeling of isolation or otherworldliness. Consider the materials used in the context of accessibility, allowing widespread creation that democratizes fine art practice through widely available commercial processes. Editor: There's a strength there, too, despite the vulnerability. Those eyes...they're unwavering, even piercing. Like she knows something we don't about the depths she inhabits. Makes me wonder if there is something the depths know. Curator: Certainly, the gaze draws you in. Her art often plays with idealized beauty and underlying tensions. Acrylic paints facilitate smooth blending for the subject's skin tone, enhancing this impression, but with very affordable means accessible for everyday consumers. Editor: It's interesting how something so cool can also feel so raw and immediate. Acrylic lends itself nicely to this type of painting, don't you think? It's definitely a conversation starter...something haunting lingers after the image. Curator: Absolutely. The chosen media aligns well with Joncas’ signature exploration of complex emotions, using a craft readily at hand. Thanks to "Deep Sea," we’re seeing the convergence of materials, and concept that provides many insights into what the culture values. Editor: Agreed, and as for me, I'm suddenly in the mood to spend an afternoon staring into the depths of an aquarium. There's more than meets the eye, that is for sure.