Trout and Reflected Tree 1985

Neil Welliver made this painting, Trout and Reflected Tree, with watercolors. The strokes and color fields are so fluid. Looking at this work, I feel like I’m seeing the world through water. I love how the white of the paper peeks through between the dark lines, giving the work a sense of light and air. The layers of color create a sense of depth, while the overall flatness of the composition keeps the eye moving across the surface. The red against the browns and greens really makes the trout pop! It’s as if the fish is swimming right out of the painting. Welliver was an interesting artist who explored similar themes to Rackstraw Downes, another landscape artist of his generation. Both artists invite us to slow down, observe closely, and appreciate the beauty of the everyday world around us.