Nica

## Nica This portrait captures a fleeting moment of attentive energy, a warmth radiating from the subject despite the subdued palette. Rendered with swift, visible brushwork, the composition emphasizes the animal’s focused gaze and the subtle play of light across its coat. The artist prioritizes impression over precise detail, building form through layered tones of umber, sienna, and charcoal. A soft, atmospheric background suggests interior space, yet remains secondary to the directness of the animal’s presence. There is a sense of immediacy, as if captured *alla prima*, that lends the work a captivating vitality—a study not simply *of* a creature, but of a feeling—loyalty, alertness, and a quiet, watchful companionship.