Sanderson, Ruth – Unicorns 16 (end Ruth Sanderson

The artwork presents a dramatic depiction of a breaking wave, rendered with a palpable sense of movement and power. The composition is dominated by the cresting form of the wave itself, which occupies nearly the entire frame. Its surface is not smooth but textured, built up through layers of paint that suggest both the fluidity and the density of water. A palette of deep blues and greens defines the bulk of the wave, while highlights of white and pale turquoise capture the spray and foam erupting from its peak.
The artist’s technique emphasizes a tactile quality; thick impasto creates ridges and valleys on the surface, mimicking the chaotic nature of the oceans energy. The light source appears to be diffused, illuminating the water from within and contributing to an overall feeling of luminosity despite the dark tones. A sliver of sky is visible at the top edge of the canvas, hinting at a stormy atmosphere with dusky pink and grey hues.
Beyond the literal representation of a wave, the painting evokes themes of natures raw force and the sublime. The scale implied by the towering wave suggests an encounter with something vast and potentially overwhelming. There’s a sense of precariousness inherent in the moment captured – the instant before the wave crashes down. This fleeting quality lends the work a dynamic tension, inviting contemplation on the transient nature of existence and the power of natural phenomena to inspire awe and perhaps even fear. The absence of any human presence further reinforces the dominance of the natural world and its indifference to human concerns.