Remote Futures 2012

Darren Waterston made this painting, Remote Futures, with a light touch, building up layers to create a misty, dreamlike world. The painting has a delicate surface, with thin washes of color that blend and bleed into each other. You can see the texture of the canvas underneath, which adds to the feeling of lightness and transparency. The blues and grays evoke a sense of distance, like looking out at a hazy landscape. Then there are these small spots of red, like tiny embers glowing in the distance. They catch your eye and create a feeling of warmth against the cool blues. Waterston’s work reminds me of Whistler, with its focus on atmosphere and mood. But it also feels very contemporary, with its awareness of process and materiality. Ultimately, it's a painting that invites you to slow down and contemplate the beauty of impermanence.