Deer Isle, Maine 1922

John Marin made this watercolor painting, Deer Isle, Maine, at some point in his career, and you can feel the fresh sea air. It’s all washes of color and light. Imagine him outside, maybe a bit cold, quickly trying to catch the scene. The paint is thin, really letting the white of the paper shine through, which is kinda brave, right? There are these cool, dark purplish-red rocks in the foreground, and they’re not just sitting there; they have these pools of blue trapped within. It’s almost like the rocks are breathing. Then there's the sky, streaks of yellow and pink. I’m thinking about how much control to exert, and when to let the painting lead. He made so many paintings of the sea. Each one probably taught him something new. It’s like he was having a conversation with the ocean, each painting a response to the last. And that's what painting's all about, isn't it?