Mirena Rhee

oil on linen, 34 x 26 inches, 2023

I consider myself not a painter but an investigator of Mars's surface. I look at the pictures taken by the Perseverance rover and pay attention to the smallest details like the small pits on the rocks, the tiny cracks, and weathering effects.

Similarly, I build the surface of the painting using natural pigments and resins that produce a jewel-like texture. The first layers usually have a more matte, sandy finish.

I use old master's techniques employed by Vermeer and Salvador Dali with many layers of glazing, layers of pigments like cremnitz white and I paint brush strokes accurately using a magnifying glass.