Thus the people were free for all time from the fear of poisonous reptiles 1909

This watercolour shows a saint-like figure holding a staff, who has freed the world from the fear of snakes – lucky us! I imagine Charles Robinson layering these washes of thin paint, one over the other, to create depth and form. What was he thinking, I wonder, as he flicked his wrist to make the snakes swirl and writhe? I mean, just look at the way that earthy brown of the monk’s robe contrasts with the blueish background! The lines are so delicate and the colours so precise, it makes me think of the early Renaissance painters. There is a kind of storybook clarity. But it also reminds me of my own process – where I aim to create forms that are also expressive gestures. These forms are more feeling than actual snakes or monks, but I like the story that he tells with his brush. In any case, it’s a reminder that we’re all just borrowing from each other, remixing, and trying to make sense of the world through image-making.