Tiger Shadows 

Julie Bell painted this striking portrait, *Tiger Shadows,* with oils on canvas. Looking closely, you can see how she built up layers of translucent color, a technique called glazing. This isn't just about representation, it's about the quality of light itself. The traditional techniques of oil painting – slow drying, easily blended – allow for the depiction of a single moment that feels timeless. Bell's commitment to realism is clear in the careful rendering of the tiger's fur and the play of light across its form. Her expertise elevates what might be a straightforward animal portrait to a profound statement about the animal’s inherent beauty and presence, which traditionally was the premise of fine arts, rather than that of craft. Bell's work offers a reminder that skill and technique are not separate from artistic vision. Materials and process are always central to an artwork’s meaning.