Dreamcatcher 2006

Bo Bartlett painted this piece, Dreamcatcher, with what looks like oil on canvas. It's all about the process of building up layers, I think, like adding whispers to a secret. Look at how the light kind of struggles to come in. The greys and whites Bartlett uses aren't just colours; they're moods. The skin tones are so delicate, but the way the figure is placed gives them weight. You can almost feel the coolness of the room and the warmth of the sun on your back. It's a painting where the texture tells a story. This reminds me of Edward Hopper, but way more intimate. Both artists know how to make silence speak volumes. It's art that reminds us that seeing is about feeling, and feeling is about connecting.