Sand Castle 2022

Zoe Hawk's "Sand Castle," made in the 20th century, is an oil painting that revels in the joy of color and the process of building a scene. The paint is applied in layers, creating a surface that's both smooth and textured, like the sand itself. Look at the figure pouring water from the metal bucket. See how the transparency and opacity of the medium captures the sense of movement, the light refracting through the stream. The artist uses a limited palette, yet manages to convey a remarkable sense of depth and volume. It reminds me a little bit of Pierre Bonnard, with its focus on the intimate and the everyday, but with a contemporary edge. Ultimately, "Sand Castle" is a reminder that art, like life, is an ongoing process of building, destroying, and rebuilding. And that ambiguity is a beautiful thing.