Premonition 2020

Michael Cheval made this painting, Premonition, with oil paint and a touch of surrealism. The way Cheval uses oil feels traditional, but he isn't afraid to mix realism with something totally out there. It's like a painting that knows it's a painting. Look at how he builds up the surface. See how the lilac-colored dress swirls with the background? The texture feels almost velvety, like a thick impasto that’s been smoothed out just enough to make it believable. Notice how the lilac blossoms in her hair are meticulously rendered, each petal a small burst of color against the more abstract backdrop. The brushwork creates this contrast between precision and suggestion. There is a conversation with artists like Magritte here, a little bit of a nod to the absurd, but Cheval brings his own sense of humor and whimsy to the table. And that, my friends, is what keeps art alive and kicking.