Things Don’t Stay Fixed 2019

Bo Bartlett made this painting, Things Don’t Stay Fixed, with oil paint, sometime after 1955. There’s something about the way the figure floats in this work that hints at a feeling of ethereal movement, a gentle dance of color and form that’s really compelling. Looking closely, you can see how Bartlett builds up the image with delicate layers of paint. The sky, full of blues and whites, feels almost like a watercolour, soft and dreamy. And then there are these flowers scattered about – each one painted with such care. For me, it’s how the artist handles the texture that gives the piece its magic. The smooth surface makes the scene feel both real and unreal at the same time. The woman's yellow dress, and the light that falls on it, reminds me a little bit of Andrew Wyeth, another painter interested in capturing the quiet moments. "Things Don’t Stay Fixed" is a reminder that change is the only constant.