Three Nurses 2011

Rose Freymuth-Frazier painted "Three Nurses," and wow, the dramatic lighting and smooth finish give it this unreal, almost hyper-real vibe. Like a dream but with high contrast. The color palette is pretty restrained, mostly darks and creams, but it's the way the light hits those forms that really grabs you. You can almost feel the slickness of the fabric, or the soft look of skin, it’s very tactile. It makes you want to reach out and touch the canvas, even though you know you shouldn't! Look at the dark shadows under the figures, those are brushed in softy, but the edges of the surgical masks are sharp and clean. It's a cool mix of precision and looseness. It kind of reminds me of John Currin's paintings, with that similar blend of classical technique and edgy subject matter. Both artists are clearly masters of their craft, but aren’t afraid to mess with our expectations a little. Art is just about looking at the world in a new way, right?