Gray Mist 1987

Eyvind Earle made this print called Gray Mist using serigraphy, or silkscreen printing; it’s all about layering color in a controlled way, a bit like the world of painting. What grabs me first is the tree branch, this strong, dark thing reaching across the top. Then you notice how the tones shift, like the world is fading out. It’s pretty clear he’s playing with depth, but not in a typical way. The texture comes from those tiny, repeated marks, almost like Morse code. This builds up a kind of dreamy fuzziness. There’s something about the way Earle handles the light that reminds me of Edward Hopper – that same sense of loneliness. But with Earle, there’s also a bit of decorative charm, a calmness that makes you feel like you’re walking into a fairytale. It’s this balance between mood and design that makes Earle stand out in the ongoing chat between artists.