Deerfield River 1942

Donald Greason made this drawing of the Deerfield River with ink on paper. It’s all about seeing, isn’t it? The ink washes create a hazy atmosphere, like looking at a landscape through a soft lens. I’m drawn to the way the ink bleeds and spreads, creating these delicate, almost ghostly forms. Look at the trees – they’re not solid, defined shapes, but rather suggestions of trees. The lines are thin and wavering, as if he’s capturing the movement of the wind through the leaves. It’s a process of layering and letting the ink do its thing, embracing the fluidity of the medium. There’s a vulnerability to this piece, an openness that reminds me of the work of Joan Mitchell. Both artists share a love of landscape, and a willingness to let the paint speak for itself. In the end, art is a dialogue, where artists respond to each other across time, expanding our understanding of what painting can be.