Tenderly 

Julie Bell created ‘Tenderly’, which presents us with a study in contrasts and connections, painted with careful attention to texture and form. The close, cropped composition focuses our attention on the interlocked figures of two goats. The white goat, rendered with soft, almost hazy edges, contrasts sharply with the solid, brown coat of the second goat. This contrast isn’t just visual, it suggests a play between the ethereal and the grounded, the dreamlike and the real. Notice the way the goats lean into one another, creating a circular flow that binds them together. This compositional choice reinforces the theme of connection suggested by the title. The background, a sea of indistinct greens, acts as a neutral space that pushes the subjects forward, emphasizing their relationship. ‘Tenderly’ functions as a meditation on intimacy and connection as its meaning is constructed through composition, texture, and the considered arrangement of forms.