Thebe's Revenge 1982

Brett Whiteley made this painting of the ocean, “Thebe’s Revenge,” most likely with watercolour and ink washes. It’s all about the drama of the waves and that cool, dark blue! I really get the sense that Whiteley was interested in the way that water moves. Look at the mark-making! The curving lines build up a sense of volume, making you feel like you could fall right into the swell. The paint’s pretty thin in places, so you can see the paper underneath, which adds to the feeling of light and movement, but then there are moments of thickly applied, almost creamy white in the crests of the waves. He must have used some very fine brushes to create those intricate details in the foreground wave, with its dark swirls of ink. It reminds me of Hokusai's "The Great Wave," but more personal and kind of moody. It’s all about the artist’s feelings, not so much about the accuracy. Anyway, it makes you think, right?