Wise Ones 2022

Rose Freymuth-Frazier made this work, ‘Wise Ones’, with oil paint on canvas. The process here is one of careful accumulation. She would have slowly built up the image of the rabbits layer by layer using brushes and solvents. Take a look at the way Freymuth-Frazier has captured the rabbits' fur, using different strokes and colours to bring out their texture and form. The material of the oil paint has allowed her to create a smooth yet detailed surface, contrasting with the stark black background and shiny pearls. Oil paint has been a favourite of artists for centuries. This is because it allows for blending and layering to a degree that other mediums do not. The artist’s practice of oil painting engages with the tradition of fine art, while simultaneously exploring the world of animal imagery and portraiture. The artist may be inviting us to think about how we represent animals, and the power of art to make the ordinary mysterious. By emphasising the importance of technique, Freymuth-Frazier prompts us to reconsider the traditional hierarchies of art and craft, questioning what it means to make something well.