Toehold 

Erik Thor Sandberg made this painting, titled 'Toehold,' using oils, a traditional medium stretching back centuries. But what he's doing with the paint is anything but traditional. The smooth, almost photographic realism gives the painting a surreal, dreamlike quality. The figure, teetering on the cliff's edge, is rendered with incredible detail, while her hair morphs into something unexpected, a swarm of creatures. Sandberg's technique is incredibly labor-intensive. Consider the time and patience required to achieve such fine detail, such careful blending of color. It speaks to a dedicated work ethic. 'Toehold' prompts us to consider the relationship between the artist's hand and the finished image. It challenges our expectations of what painting can be, demonstrating the power of material and process in shaping meaning. It reminds us to look closely, to appreciate the skill involved, and to recognize the ways in which artistic labor can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.