Zebra 2012

Editor: This is "Zebra," a watercolor portrait created by Bernadette Resha in 2012. I’m really drawn to the way she captures the texture of the zebra's mane and fur using only grayscale watercolor. What do you make of her technique and composition choices? Curator: The formal properties of Resha’s "Zebra" are quite compelling. Note the interplay between positive and negative space created by the stripes. This contrast is not merely representational, it’s structural. How do the values – the gradations of gray – contribute to the overall impact? Editor: I see how the values create depth, especially around the eyes and muzzle. They give the zebra a soft, almost melancholic expression. Curator: Precisely. Observe how the artist uses washes of varying opacity to define form. There’s a tension here between the realism implied by the subject matter and the abstract quality of the medium itself. Do you find any inherent conflict in the monochrome palette chosen? Editor: I suppose using only black and white flattens out some of the natural vibrancy, but I think that the composition really uses that to give this simple color palette complexity and texture. Curator: The success lies in that tension you’ve identified. Resha manipulates a restricted palette to construct a compelling visual experience. We might view this work through the lens of semiotics where stripes take on meaning far beyond simple natural depiction. Editor: That's an interesting perspective! I was initially drawn to the simple beauty, but now I see the sophisticated technical skill that underpins that simplicity. Curator: And that careful composition elevates the work. There is a lot to discuss from one color! I'm very happy that you see how Resha plays with simple ideas.