Blue Velvet 2021

Allison Reimold’s ‘Blue Velvet’ is an intriguing painting made in the 20th Century, though the exact date is unknown. The piece is striking due to the commitment to a primarily blue palette, yet within this constraint, Reimold finds a remarkable range of tones and textures. The paint application is smooth, almost airbrushed, creating a velvety surface that invites a tactile response. Look closely at the rendering of the lips; the subtle gradations of blue give them volume and a sensuous quality, capturing the way light gently plays across a curved surface. There’s something dreamlike about this portrait, a reminder that art doesn’t always need to shout, sometimes it whispers. I am reminded of Odilon Redon, particularly the way he created a sense of the ethereal in his portraits, focusing on mood and atmosphere. It’s a dance between control and letting go, a negotiation between what we see and what we feel.