Light Haze

In Light Haze, Bill Bate pushes the boundaries of his aquatic series, moving further into a realm of golden abstraction. This oil painting captures a pair of figures as they drift through a dense, sun-drenched atmosphere that sits between water and mist. Unlike the cooler, deep-sea tones of earlier works in the series, Light Haze is defined by a warm, radiant palette of ochre, amber, and vibrant gold.

The composition is characterized by a dynamic, diagonal energy. The figures are silhouettes of soft shadow, appearing to dissolve into a brilliant bloom of light that dominates the upper quadrant of the canvas. Bate’s application of paint here is particularly textural; the "haze" is rendered with a clouded, dappled technique that suggests the blinding shimmer of a sunburst breaking through a surface.

This work beautifully encapsulates the theme of "the trace of a trace." The bodies are no longer the primary focus but serve as anchors for the light itself. Light Haze is a breathtaking exploration of transcendence, where the physical form becomes secondary to the overwhelming, sensory experience of light, warmth, and weightless water suspension. It is a masterful study of a moment where reality is entirely softened by memory and glow.

122 x 92 cm unframed canvas