Twilight 1974

Vudon Baklytsky made this painting, Twilight, using thick strokes of blues, greens, and oranges. It's easy to imagine Baklytsky working on this, adding layer upon layer, letting the painting emerge through intuition and experimentation. I sympathize with that act of building up the surface, those heavy impasto marks. What might he have been thinking as he added those vibrant oranges? They almost glow against the muted blues, giving the impression of a sunset or distant lights. Look closely, and you'll notice the texture, the way the brushstrokes catch the light, each one a deliberate act. It reminds me of other painters who used texture to evoke atmosphere, like Van Gogh or even some of the abstract expressionists. We, as artists, are always in conversation with each other across time. We are exchanging ideas, inspiring each other's creativity. Painting is a conversation that's both visual and deeply embodied, full of uncertainty, where multiple meanings can emerge.