The portrait of one poplar 2013

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this ‘Portrait of One Poplar’ using what looks like watercolor, and maybe ink. The way the brushstrokes hover, like little dashes and drips, tells you so much about the artist’s process. It’s like they’re trying to capture not just the tree, but the feeling of a tree, its essence. The color is so reduced, it’s almost entirely black and white, which really brings out the texture of the paper and the flow of the ink. Look at how the lines defining the branches are both fragile and strong, confident but also a little uncertain. It's like a dance of intention and chance, which is what painting is all about. It reminds me of some of the early Chinese brush painters, like Bada Shanren. Their work is similarly about capturing the spirit of things, rather than a perfect representation. With art it's never about getting to one true meaning. It's more like a conversation.