Beyond The Mission Walls 2015

Terri Kelly Moyers made this painting called, Beyond The Mission Walls, using what looks like pretty traditional methods. She’s got a sharp eye for detail. Looking closely, you can see she’s built up the forms through layered brushstrokes. It's not about hiding the process; it's about revealing it, each stroke contributing to the overall shimmer of light and shadow. Take, for example, the way she renders the horses’ coats, mixing browns, tans, and touches of white. The material qualities of this piece really sing. The texture isn't overly thick, but there's a definite physicality to it, especially where the light catches the raised edges of the paint. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the canvas, coaxing the image into being. It reminds me of Sargent, who could make a painting look like it painted itself! It makes you think about how images can be both representational and abstract, all at once.