Blue lagoon 2020

Yulia Mamontova made this 30 x 20 cm painting, Blue Lagoon, with what looks like very thick strokes of oil paint. It’s like she's building the scene rather than just depicting it. Looking closely, you can almost feel the weight of each brushstroke. The blues are so vibrant, like chunks of glass reflecting the light. Then, little glimmers of gold appear, adding a kind of dreamlike quality. Notice how she’s used these dabs of paint to create a sense of movement in the water. There’s something very immediate about this painting, a real sense of touch. You can see a possible influence of Impressionism, the way she captures a fleeting moment with color and light. It reminds us that art isn't about perfection, it's about process. It's about seeing and feeling.