View at Oaklands 

Hercules Brabazon Brabazon created this landscape view in pastel, a medium that invites softness and immediacy. The appeal of pastel lies in its directness – pure pigment pressed into a stick, allowing the artist to apply color to paper with minimal intervention. Look at the sky and the verdant fields. See how the dry, velvety texture of the pastel lends itself to depicting atmospheric effects, capturing the hazy light filtering through the clouds and across the landscape. Unlike oil painting, which involves layering and blending, pastel encourages a more spontaneous approach, building up the image through hatched strokes and subtle gradations of tone. Consider the speed with which Brabazon must have worked to capture this fleeting moment in time, preserving the essence of the scene with a few deft touches. Ultimately, this work reminds us that even the simplest of materials can be used to create profound and lasting beauty, when wielded with skill and sensitivity.