The Messenger 2019

In Joshua Flint’s painting *The Messenger*, the figures, the bird, the space itself, all seem to emerge out of a sea of layered oil paint. Patches of blues, greens, and grays create a sense of depth, like we’re looking into a dream. I imagine Flint layering thin washes of paint, letting each layer dry before adding another, slowly building up the image, maybe scraping back in places. It's like he's digging into the past, uncovering memories or hidden stories. Look at the way the bird takes flight—it’s a blur of energy, a messenger between worlds. The paint is thin and translucent here, creating a sense of movement and etherealness. The female figure sitting serenely on the left, is painted with more density and opacity. Flint’s work reminds me of other painters, like Gerhard Richter, who also play with layering and blurring to create a sense of ambiguity and mystery. Artists are always building on each other's ideas, pushing the boundaries of what painting can do. It's like a never-ending conversation, and we’re lucky to be a part of it.