CALMING THE STORM 

Jon McNaughton’s "Calming the Storm" is an oil painting that appears to have been produced relatively recently. While seemingly traditional in its methods, it's important to consider the cultural context of this work. Oil paint is a versatile medium, allowing for rich colors and detailed realism. McNaughton’s technique appears to be in line with an academic tradition, focusing on representational accuracy. The way in which the paint is layered to create light and shadow is quite conventional, reminiscent of old master techniques. This approach contrasts starkly with the conceptual shifts in art, and emphasizes skill and tradition rather than avant-garde experimentation. While oil paintings are generally considered ‘fine art’, it is important to remember that all practices are rooted in different forms of labor. The painting’s meaning can be understood by the degree of meticulous labor and craft involved. McNaughton engages with a market that often idealizes historical modes and aesthetics, therefore blurring the lines between painting, craft, and cultural production.