Rowing Sketches 1963

Donald Carlisle Greason made these Rowing Sketches using brown ink and wash on paper. It’s all gentle suggestion, a fleeting impression caught on the page, like glancing at a scene and then looking away. I can imagine Greason quickly laying down these strokes, trying to capture the light and movement. The ink pools and spreads, creating shadows and depth with minimal effort. Look at the way he’s suggested the figures – just a few lines, and yet you get a sense of their posture, their weight. It reminds me of the sketches that Constable made outdoors, a constant returning to the landscape to better understand it. I love how economical it is; nothing feels overworked or fussy. You can almost feel the breeze coming off the water, a real sense of place. It’s as if he’s inviting us to complete the picture in our minds, which is what all good art should do.