Taking Aim 1983

Robert Peak made "Taking Aim" with watercolor paint, capturing a precise moment with soft, flowing marks. I love the way he’s fearlessly layered washes of green and gold, punctuated with the sharp lines of arrows in flight. You can feel the archer’s concentration, but also the looseness of the painter's hand. I think it must have been such a thrill to make this! So many decisions – where to let the colors bleed, when to tighten the detail. The orange-red lines of the arrows cutting through the green are just amazing. It’s like a dance between intention and accident, kind of like how I feel when I’m in the studio. Peak's work reminds me a little bit of John Singer Sargent, in that he’s both figurative and impressionistic. Painters are always in conversation with each other, taking inspiration across time. It’s all one big messy, beautiful exchange of ideas.