Pearl 2012

Rose Freymuth-Frazier painted "Pearl" in 2012, and what strikes me is the way she uses a limited palette to create such a luminous effect. It's all soft edges and subtle shifts in tone, like she’s building the image from the inside out. Look closely at the way the paint is applied. It's thin, almost translucent in places, especially around the eyes, and built up slowly. You can sense the layering, the push and pull of the brushstrokes. I’m especially drawn to the mouth. It's just a few dabs of red, but they manage to convey a whole world of emotion. Freymuth-Frazier reminds me a little of those early Renaissance portraits, like a contemporary spin on a Simone Martini. But what I love about it is that it doesn't try to be definitive. It's open, ambiguous, and invites you to bring your own interpretations.