Transparent Golden Ochre 

Editor: Here we have a still life, "Transparent Golden Ochre," made by James Newman. I'm struck by how elemental it feels—a tiny universe contained in that little jar. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, it whispers of alchemy, doesn't it? That promise held within pigment. I find myself pondering the color itself, that golden ochre. Where did it come from, what ancient earth birthed it? It makes me want to swirl it in my fingers and paint the sun! Don't you think? Editor: Absolutely! It's almost a primal instinct to want to use it. Thanks for that perspective! Curator: My pleasure. It's the artist's job to stir those primal instincts.