Shelburne Center from Bordwell's Ferry Road 1965

Donald Greason made this watercolor of Shelburne Center from Bordwell's Ferry Road. Executed with thin washes and delicate pen lines, it's a humble yet evocative image. Greason’s light touch belies the complexities of landscape painting. What might seem like a direct impression is, in fact, a carefully constructed view. The artist directs our attention, choosing what to emphasize and what to leave out. Consider the choice of watercolor itself. Unlike oil paint, which allows for layering and correction, watercolor demands a certain decisiveness. There’s an immediacy here, a sense of capturing a fleeting moment. Watercolor was embraced by amateur painters as well as professionals, because it’s affordable and portable. So, while Greason's skill is evident, his choice of medium democratizes the artistic process. It invites us to see the world around us with a painter's eye. The work invites us to acknowledge the importance of place, memory, and the everyday act of looking.