Fortune Teller 1979

Frank Mason’s ‘Fortune Teller’ is an oil painting that captures a figure illuminated by candlelight. The handling of paint here is what gets me - it's loose and gestural. Look at how the thick, visible brushstrokes build the form, especially in the fiery oranges of the sleeve and hands. There's a real sense of immediacy; you can almost feel Mason wrestling with the paint, trying to capture the fleeting effects of light. The way the flickering candlelight creates these intense contrasts, with deep shadows and highlights, it’s not just about representation, it’s about the act of painting itself. It reminds me a bit of Rembrandt, that same interest in light and shadow, but with a more modern, painterly approach. Ultimately, this work invites us to embrace the ambiguity and the multiple possibilities inherent in the creative process, to trust our instincts, and to let the painting guide us.