Tired 2020

Jammie Holmes made this painting, ‘Tired,’ with an attitude, I see that in the way he moves the paint, sort of casual and confident, all at the same time. It’s the feeling of someone who knows exactly what they want to say, and how to say it. The painting is raw and real. The green of the couch is almost acidic, like a challenge to the eye, and the figure in the painting just exudes weariness. Look at the texture in that green, it's not trying to hide anything. You can almost feel the bristles of the brush, the way the paint was dragged and layered. And then there's that red floor, holding everything in place with a kind of stubbornness. I'm reminded of someone like Bob Thompson, with his bold colors and figures that seem to be pulled from a dream. Both artists share a similar interest in depicting human experiences in ways that are both intimate and expansive. What I love about art is the way it keeps talking to itself, remixing and reinventing, like a never-ending conversation.