On the Rocks 1956

Tom Lovell painted “On the Rocks” with what looks like oil paint. The first thing that hits you is the warmth, how Lovell uses these peachy colours to make you almost feel the heat of the sun on your skin. Look at how the paint is applied in layers, especially on the rocks and the figures’ skin – it gives this sense of depth, like the light is both on them and within them. The colours are so vivid, yet there’s a softness too, a kind of dreamy quality that suggests a memory, or maybe a daydream. I love the way the dark strokes of the sea contrast with the orange mats and golden skin tones. It makes it feel like you are right there on the rocks with them. This piece reminds me a bit of David Hockney’s sunny pool scenes, though Lovell brings a different kind of intimacy to his work. For me, it’s a painting that captures a moment, a feeling, more than just a scene.