Whiting 2004

Rose Freymuth-Frazier made this oil painting, Whiting. The background is murky, like the bottom of a lake, and from it emerges the still life. I can imagine the artist working with brushes loaded with paint to create this world. It’s a dark painting, yet the fish is iridescent; it glows like a jewel. I feel for Freymuth-Frazier. I know what it's like to be in the studio mixing colors, trying to capture the essence of something. The way the light hits the scales, the open mouth – there's a real sense of life here, even in stillness. There's a bravery and vulnerability to using paint. Painters are always talking to each other across time and space. This painting reminds me of other artists who explore themes of mortality and beauty. The practice of painting is all about exchange: we learn from each other, steal from each other, and inspire each other. There is no right or wrong way to paint.