Special №21 

Georgia O'Keeffe created "Special №21" using oil paints on canvas. The application of oil paint is integral to experiencing this artwork. Looking at the artwork's surface, notice how O'Keeffe diluted the oil paint to create luminous fields of color. The consistency of the paint ranges from thick impasto to thin washes, achieved through skilled manipulation of brushes and solvents. She carefully built up layers of pigment on the canvas to create depth and texture. The inherent qualities of oil paint, its viscosity, and slow drying time allowed O'Keeffe to blend colors seamlessly and achieve subtle gradations of tone. She harnessed the material's capacity for luminosity to evoke a sense of transcendence, creating a harmonious composition, through the techniques and traditions of fine art. O'Keeffe's masterful handling of oil paint challenges traditional notions of craft and fine art. The work invites us to consider the significance of materials, making, and context in fully understanding its meaning.