Field Study #725 2018

Terrell James made this painting, Field Study #725, with oil paint on a piece of paper. It's a party of soft, roundish marks. I can almost feel the artist dabbing and swirling, a little push here, a little correction there, the color palette is like a muted daydream – blues, greens, yellows, reds all playing together, but kinda quiet, like they're whispering secrets. I wonder if she was thinking about nature, like maybe a pond with lily pads, or just lost in the joy of smushing paint around, seeing what happens when colors meet and mingle. The paint looks creamy and thick in some spots, thin and watery in others, which gives it this cool, layered effect, like you're peeling back the skin of the painting to see what's underneath. It reminds me a bit of Joan Mitchell, but with a more down-to-earth vibe. Painting is like a conversation across time, artists inspiring each other, riffing on ideas, it's not about having all the answers, it's about embracing the questions, the messiness, and just seeing where it takes you.