Thunderstorm on the Oregon Trail 1908

Childe Hassam made this watercolour, *Thunderstorm on the Oregon Trail*, with washes of muted purples, blues, greens, and browns. I can just imagine him, trying to capture the atmosphere of a storm rolling in across a vast landscape. The sky looks heavy, like it's about to burst. See how the colors blend and bleed into each other? I bet Hassam was working quickly, trying to get the feeling of the moment down before it disappeared. The light is so interesting in this piece, as light breaks between the wall of rain. It reminds me of some of Turner's landscapes, all about capturing the drama and power of nature. Artists are always looking at each other, you know? Taking cues, riffing off ideas. It's like a big conversation that never ends. Painting is a process of constant discovery, a way of making sense of the world around us, even when it's messy and unpredictable.