In the park 2014

Nick Alm painted "In the Park" with what looks like oil on canvas, and right away, the way he handles the paint has a kind of slippery quality. I am drawn to how the white of the bench is built up in layers, allowing underlying tones to peek through, creating a sense of depth and form. It makes me think about the physicality of painting: it’s not just about rendering what you see, but about how the material itself—the paint, the brushstrokes—can evoke feelings, like the smoothness of metal or the softness of skin. Check out the shadows on the ground, they have a loose almost impressionistic feel. The controlled palette, the slightly melancholic air of the figure, it reminds me a little of Whistler. What do you think? Ultimately, art is about looking, feeling, and thinking—and letting the conversation unfold.