Winter Barns 1982

Eyvind Earle made Winter Barns with what looks like cel-vinyl paint, which gives it that super smooth, almost animated feel. The way Earle stacks those super-flat colors, feels like he's building an image rather than depicting something. Check out the red on the side of the barn, how it is broken up by those purple shadows, a perfect contrast. It's not about blending or realism; it's about the joy of placing shapes next to each other, making a conversation. Look at how the strong vertical lines of the tree trunks in the foreground echo those in the background - so many repeated patterns! This reminds me a little of the graphic sensibility of someone like Charley Harper, but with a touch more melancholy. It's a reminder that art doesn't have to be a mirror; it can be a playground, where simple forms create complex feelings.