Castorland, New York 1913

John Marin made this watercolor, Castorland, New York, with paper and brush in 1913, and you can tell he’s enjoying the process of making, just like me. The marks feel casual, but deliberate, like he's capturing a fleeting moment, the light, the air, the mood. Look how he layers washes of color to create depth and form. The green of the tree is built up from many strokes and hues, giving it a vibrant, living energy. The blues in the sky are loose and free, mirroring the horizontality of the landscape, creating a sense of openness. What’s really great about this piece is that it reminds me of Arthur Dove, another artist from the same time. They both shared this similar sensitivity to nature, and this desire to capture it in their own way, through the use of color and form. It's not about perfect representation, it's about feeling. Art’s like a conversation between artists, and here, you can hear echoes of others.