“In the Thick of It” Oil Painting on Wood Panel

About the work

“In the Thick of It” captures the quiet beauty of the artist’s tools, frozen in time. Painted in layers, this small-scale trompe l’oeil artwork on wood panel takes viewers into the heart of the creative process. Starting with a dark underlayer, Ivy Bath sculpts the paint tubes to life, infusing each with intricate detail and texture. A second layer of cool and warm colors was added, with white scumbled into different parts of the painting, creating a sense of light and depth. A final layer of details, using transparent and opaque paints, pulls the piece together, highlighting the beauty of the materials that bring art into being.

The juxtaposition of these elements—materials, textures, and the process itself—gives the painting a feeling of motion, even in stillness. This work is ideal for collectors who appreciate intricate realism and the raw, unpolished beauty of the studio.

A closer look

“In the Thick of It” by Ivy Bath is an homage to the humble tools that bring art into existence. Each tube is both a tool and a symbol—a reminder of the raw materials artists use to transform blank spaces into visual stories. The trompe l’oeil technique adds a layer of realism that pulls the viewer into the scene, almost as if they could reach out and pick up the tubes. The piece’s masterful use of layered paint, blending both warm and cool tones, brings an energy to the still life subject, turning what could be seen as a simple depiction into an intimate narrative of creation itself.

Process & symbolism

The painting was created using a carefully orchestrated layering process. The initial dark layer serves as the foundation, giving depth and form to the objects. The subsequent layers bring the tubes to life, balancing cool and warm tones to enhance the dimensionality of each. White paint was added to create highlights, giving the work an ethereal quality. The third layer of transparent and opaque paints adds the final touches, providing intricate detail and realism. This piece reflects the very process of creation—layered, thoughtful, and built upon each successive step.