This Bitter Earth 2011

Charles Gibbons made *This Bitter Earth* using oil on canvas. The painting appears to have been made using long, deliberate brushstrokes that give the illusion of movement. Consider how the flow of the material influences its appearance, how the artist controls this flow to create texture and form. Gibbons has harnessed the inherent qualities of paint to create this illusion of flow, almost like a smoke or liquid. The smoothness of the oil gives a sense of depth to the painting, while the form seems to dance on the canvas. It’s interesting to think about how this work, with its sweeping gesture, differs from other approaches to abstract painting. Gibbons doesn’t seem interested in pure formalism. Instead, the painting has a real sense of freedom and vitality, even optimism. That’s something to celebrate. By emphasizing materials, making, and context we can fully understand the artwork, which challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.