The Grand Canyon 1913

Thomas Moran made this painting of the Grand Canyon with oils on canvas. Just imagine Moran standing there, brushes in hand, trying to capture the hugeness of it all. Look at the hazy purples and oranges blending together – it’s like the canyon is breathing. You can almost feel the sun beating down on those rocks. I wonder what was going through his head as he painted? Was he thinking about the sheer scale of nature, or maybe just trying to get the light right? The way he layered the colors makes the canyon feel both solid and dreamlike. It reminds me of Turner, who was also obsessed with capturing light. I see all these painters as being in conversation with each other across time, sharing ideas and inspiring each other to see the world in new ways. For me, painting is about uncertainty, there's no right or wrong answer. It’s like life, isn’t it?