John with Two Pattis, Beauport Park, Hastings 1990

John Bratby painted “John with Two Pattis, Beauport Park, Hastings” with oil on board. The colours are punchy, the application impulsive. He captures a snapshot of a moment, unfiltered. The thick swathes of paint create a palpable sense of texture; it's like you could reach out and feel the ridges of the brushstrokes. Look at the bottom right, the way the white of the beard is scored with raw umber, the deep black circles of the spectacles. See how these markings contrast with the light and shade of the background. They evoke a sense of depth, but they also create a kind of emotional resonance. Bratby isn't just painting a portrait, he's capturing a feeling, a mood, an atmosphere. Bratby’s work reminds me a little of Auerbach. Both artists have a similar interest in exploring the materiality of paint, and a shared emphasis on the act of painting as a form of discovery and self-expression. I guess art is just an ongoing conversation, isn’t it?