Pat-a-Cake 

Scott Gustafson created this evocative painting, “Pat-a-Cake”, deploying oil to build up layers of texture and luminosity. The composition is dynamic, swirling with movement yet grounded by the strong grid of the floor. This creates a fascinating visual experience as the viewer's eye dances between stability and motion. Gustafson's emphasis on detail is striking. Notice how he meticulously renders textures, from the soft fur of the bear to the sheen on the freshly baked cake. These textural elements are not merely decorative; they are integral to the painting’s meaning. The warmth of the colour palette is an invitation into a space of comfort and nostalgia. Through this piece Gustafson seems to question fixed notions of reality and artifice. The painting invites us to reflect on how these formal choices reflect broader cultural narratives about childhood, fantasy, and the act of creation.