Renaissance 2015

Rose Freymuth-Frazier painted "Renaissance" with oils, and it's like she dipped her brushes in a time machine, landing somewhere between the old masters and a very modern dog park. Imagine her, stepping back, squinting, adding a touch of golden hour glow to those muscular pooches. The earth tones mixed with the dogs’ natural hues create a gorgeous, surreal tableau. I wonder if she was thinking about Titian or Rubens, maybe chuckling to herself, "Let's see them paint a pit bull with this much dignity!" Look how she handles the light! It’s all soft edges, a bit hazy, like a dream you can almost recall. I’m especially drawn to the way the light catches the fur, giving each dog its own little spotlight. You get the sense of the artist’s hand, the brushstrokes almost caressing the canvas, building up layers of color and texture. Painters are always looking back, swiping ideas, remixing the past with the present. Freymuth-Frazier seems to say that the grand traditions of painting aren’t just for saints and aristocrats, but for our canine companions too. It's a playful, thoughtful nod to art history, reminding us that every artist is in conversation with those who came before, each adding their own bark to the chorus.