Bogliasco Watercolors 2005

Melissa Meyer made these watercolors, called Bogliasco, with translucent washes and bold, calligraphic gestures. I can imagine Meyer in front of the paper, brush in hand, responding to the flow of the paint, letting it bloom and bleed. It looks like she is improvising! There's a sense of freedom and play, like she's exploring the possibilities of the medium, of water meeting pigment on paper. The colors are luminous, greens and yellows, reds and blues mingling and overlapping. The dark, fluid lines create a kind of map or landscape. Looking at this painting, I feel the artist's presence, her joy in the act of painting. It reminds me a bit of Joan Mitchell, in its loose, gestural quality and vibrant palette. Artists are always in conversation with one another, inspiring each other, and pushing the boundaries of what painting can be.