Goldie 2015

Bernadette Resha made this watercolour painting of a sunflower, called Goldie, in 2015. Look at the way she coaxes out different tones, from a pale lemon yellow to a deeper golden hue. She seems to be understanding artmaking as a careful unfolding of colours. The texture of the paper peeks through the thin washes of colour, giving the piece a delicate, almost ethereal quality. See how the brushstrokes define the petals, each one distinct yet blending seamlessly into the whole. I am drawn to the centre of the flower, where she has made marks like tiny points or dashes, each one carefully placed, creating a mesmerizing field of colour. The lines in the centre feel very carefully drawn, like the artist is observing, closely and precisely, like a scientist. I think of Georgia O’Keeffe, who also explored the hidden landscapes within flowers. But Resha’s work has a tenderness, a lightness, that feels all her own. Art is a conversation, an ongoing exploration of how we see and feel the world. It’s not about fixed meanings, but about opening up possibilities.