Sketch for Central Otago (Naseby) 1953

Rita Angus made this watercolor sketch for Central Otago (Naseby) with a light touch and an even lighter palette. The way she builds the landscape from these transparent washes is amazing; it’s all about the process of layering color and letting the paper breathe. Look at how Angus uses watercolor to capture the unique, sun-baked terrain of Central Otago. There’s a real sense of openness here, and the washes of color are so light, almost like memories fading into the landscape. Notice the way the greens and browns bleed into each other, creating a sense of depth and distance, and how she uses these little dabs of blues and grays to suggest the shadows and the sky. I love the confident way she lets the paint flow and settle, creating these soft, blurred edges. It’s like the landscape itself is dissolving into light and color. This sketch reminds me of Agnes Martin's watercolors. Like Martin, Angus finds a profound sense of place in the simplest of forms, inviting us to get lost in the moment and discover our own connections to the world around us.