Vashon Ferry 2005

Bo Bartlett painted this portrait of a young woman on the Vashon Ferry, and you can tell the artist is right there, in the moment, trying to get at something true. The palette is so restrained, soft, and dreamy – muted blues, ochres, and pinks, all blended with a delicate hand. I imagine him squinting, trying to capture the play of light on her face, the way her jacket seems to absorb the sea air. Look how the paint is thin, almost translucent in places, building up subtle layers of color. See how the smooth surface gives it a kind of quiet intensity? And that gaze, those closed eyes. What is she thinking? Maybe she’s lost in thought, enjoying the journey, or maybe she’s just savoring a moment of peace. It makes me think of other painters, like Fairfield Porter or Alex Katz, who find poetry in the everyday. They all seem to be saying: slow down, look closer, there’s beauty all around us.