Deer Isle, Maine, One Horse, Two Cows on Hillside 1924

John Marin conjured this watercolor of Deer Isle, Maine, with one horse and two cows, probably in the 20s. The way he's put it down is all speed and lightness, like a sketch barely tethered to the paper. It's so fleeting, so fresh. You can almost feel him, can’t you? The artist standing right there, squinting in the sun, trying to pin down the essence of this hillside. The washes of green feel immediate, like he's racing against the changing light. I love that the animals are just these quick, almost scribbled-in forms. They’re not the point, really. It's more about the feeling of the place. The scrubby, raw energy of Maine, the scratchy charcoal capturing a sense of place, more like a memory or a dream. It's a reminder that painting isn't about getting it "right," it's about chasing after something real, something felt.