Three Trees, Georgia 1969

Ivan Albright made this painting, Three Trees, Georgia, with what looks like gouache or watercolor, and maybe some ink. He's really playing with the paint here, letting it drip and run, not trying to control it too much. It's like he's wrestling with the medium, pushing it around and seeing what it can do. Look how the dark trunks of the trees are reflected in the water. Those aren't perfect reflections; they're all wiggly and broken up. See the way he builds up the yellows, oranges, and pinks in the sky? It feels humid, like a hot summer day. You can see the brushstrokes, the way the paint sits on the surface. It's not trying to hide anything. I'd say this is close to someone like Marsden Hartley, who also has this direct approach to material. Ultimately, art is about this kind of conversation. It's about pushing boundaries and seeing what happens. And it's okay if it's a little messy, right?