Glacial Gift 2021

Terri Kelly Moyers made Glacial Gift sometime in the 20th century, probably in oil. Look at the way the light catches those rocky forms! The painting is a real testament to the physicality of paint. You can almost feel the weight and texture of the rocks, right? It’s all about layering, with thin washes building up into these solid, almost sculptural forms. I love how she handles the water, too—those delicate, feathery strokes that capture the movement and sparkle. Notice how the brushwork changes depending on the surface, from the rough, jagged edges of the rocks to the smooth, reflective surface of the water. It's like she's letting the paint mimic the actual textures of the scene, which is kind of wild. Moyers reminds me a bit of someone like, say, Frederic Church, with that same love for big, dramatic landscapes, but she's really got her own thing going on. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, with artists riffing off each other across time and space.