Follow the Flow 1960

This watercolor by Alexander Calder, called "Follow the Flow," is a playground of shapes and colors. I can imagine Calder dabbing and brushing, letting the paint bleed into pinks and yellows, setting the stage for the black lines to dance across. It’s like he’s thinking out loud with his brush, each line a thought, a feeling, a moment of pure joy. Look at the black lines looping around the yellow circle! There's a playful energy, a sense of improvisation, like a jazz solo on paper. Calder was famously inventive, so I am not surprised by the freedom of his line and composition. What's really neat is how Calder invites us to play, to see the world with a fresh eye, and to find joy in the simplest forms and gestures. He's part of an ongoing conversation among artists, where ideas bounce back and forth across time. It reminds me that painting isn't about answers but about exploring, questioning, and above all, feeling.