In Tangled in the Blue, by David Drum (1944), builds a stunning abstract composition with flowing, layered movement using a reverse-glass technique, creating a work that feels simultaneously atmospheric and tactile. The piece is painted in reverse on glass using high-quality automotive paint, gold and silver leaf, and glitter. Some pigments are opalescent and iridescent, shifting as the light catches them. By building layers of colour and texture on the back of the glass, the final image is only revealed when the glass is flipped.

The result is a bold, dynamic composition with a depth and multi-dimensional brilliance impossible to achieve on canvas. Brilliant ultramarine passages anchor the piece, while veils of gold and rose shimmer across the surface, evoking both energy and serenity. Tangled in the Blue feels refreshing and uplifting—full of motion and vitality, yet grounded by an underlying calm in its cool blue tones. When complete, the work is sealed between two pieces of glass, preserving its radiance for a lifetime.