Mare 2001

Russ Warren made this painting, Mare, with a vibrant palette of yellow, orange, and black that feels both energetic and earthy. I can imagine Warren starting with that sunny yellow, maybe building up layers, a bit haphazardly, letting the shapes emerge through a process of adding and subtracting. I can almost see him, brush in hand, circling and diving into the canvas. Those black lines, like tangled threads, create a kind of map, or maybe a cage, and underneath, that ground of orange throbs. It reminds me a bit of Twombly, or maybe even some outsider art, where the energy and the mark-making are more important than perfect representation. There's a raw, honest quality to it, a directness that speaks to something primal, almost like cave painting. The title hints at a horse, but it's more of a feeling, an essence. It's like Warren is saying, “Here's what it feels like to be around a horse, the power, the mystery.” We’re all influenced by what came before. Painting is always in conversation with itself. It’s a reminder that art isn't about answers, it's about the questions.