Untitled Landscape Study 2016

Rose Freymuth-Frazier's Untitled Landscape Study is like looking through sepia-toned glasses, the whole world dipped in gold. It’s as if the painting came together through feeling, a sense of laying down each stroke with intuition guiding the way. The materiality here is so present; the brushstrokes are visible, and the color is luminous. Thick strokes of gold, amber, and sienna construct the atmosphere and the land itself. See how Freymuth-Frazier uses short, deliberate strokes to define the landscape, giving it texture and depth? Notice how the light catches on the surface of the brushstrokes, almost like tiny, shimmering scales? The moon, or sun, at the centre of the frame is a simple circle of thin paint, but it’s the focal point, the place where everything comes together. I am reminded a little of Rackstraw Downes, in the attention to the details of the land and atmosphere. But the feeling here is more raw, more exposed. It's a reminder that art doesn't need to shout to be heard; it can whisper, suggest, and still leave a lasting impression.