Archipelago 2019

Nick Alm painted "Archipelago" using oils, and what strikes me first is the way the paint seems almost scrubbed into the canvas, a light touch that makes the forms emerge gradually. The colors are muted, natural – grays and browns of the rocks, the cool blues and greens of the water, and the soft pinks and tans of the figures' skin. It all blends together, a harmony of tones that feels both realistic and dreamlike. Look at the rocks, how he suggests the rough texture with small, broken strokes, like he is using a dry brush, and the water almost vibrates with movement. You can see how the artist is trying to capture the way light filters through the water and reflects off the rocks. Thinking about other artists who play with realism, I'm reminded of Gerhard Richter, who, like Alm, uses the physical qualities of paint to blur the line between representation and abstraction. Just like Richter, Alm reminds us that art is about seeing, feeling, and trying to capture the fleeting moments of our experience.