By the tree 2021

Nick Alm painted this piece, By the Tree, fairly recently, and the way he handles the oil paint feels contemporary, but also timeless. I love the muted palette and the way the figure blends into the snowy, wintry scene. It's as if she's a part of the landscape itself, rooted like the tree beside her. Looking closely, you can see the layers of thin washes that build up the forms, especially in the tree trunk. Notice that spot of raw umber, almost like a stain. It contrasts with the cool grays and whites of the snow, and it gives the tree a sense of depth and texture. The way Alm uses the paint, it's all about transparency and layering, letting the light filter through. There’s something really lovely and haunting in the way Alm works, like Whistler's atmospheric studies, but with this quiet, internal narrative. It’s a good reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, and each artist brings their own voice to the mix.