Hive by James Edward Scherbarth, Framed

A dark swirl in the middle, honeycomb yellow at the top right, and a rust patch that might be a bee or the sun.

Hive, framed, is oil and cold wax on paper by James Edward Scherbarth (1949-2021), dated 2016 and signed and dated en verso. Painters working in cold wax often press textured materials into the surface, leaving patterns like the hexagonal mesh visible here. Yellow honeycomb impressions spread across the upper part of the square image. A block of rusty orange sits right of center, and dark strokes sweep diagonally through the left side over pale gray and cream. It is matted in white in a brown wood frame. It is 13 inches wide and 13 high, the image 6 by 6.

Busy, as a hive ought to be.