Wildflowers on the Edge of a Cliff 2018

Jana Brike’s oil on canvas painting features two young women and a swarm of blue butterflies. Though she uses the traditional medium of oil paint, the surreal imagery of the painting pushes the boundaries of fine art. Brike's meticulous application of paint results in a smooth surface, which intensifies the almost hyper-real quality of the image. The butterflies, which appear to have been collaged onto the figures, seem to emerge organically from the scene itself. Oil paint is a flexible medium, known for its ability to capture subtle gradations of light and shadow. Brike uses this to her advantage, creating a luminous and ethereal atmosphere. But instead of illusionism, she uses the medium to play with our perceptions. Her painting is not just about looking, but about the labor of making. It asks us to consider the context of its creation, blurring the lines between traditional art and something more contemporary.