“Rose-Grey Mountain Pass” — 36×25 Oil on Paper by Jim Marlette | Minimalist Meditative Landscape
This 36×25 oil-on-paper painting by Jim Marlette features softly layered mountains in rose-grey tones framed by dramatic foreground cliffs. A luminous waterway leads into the distance, dissolving into mist and sky. Marlette’s signature oil-on-paper technique—thin, translucent layers applied with breath-guided strokes—creates a tranquil, meditative atmosphere.
Signed and acquired in New York City, this artwork epitomizes Marlette’s highly collectible minimalist landscapes, where serenity and subtle tonal movement define the visual experience.
DETAILED ARTWORK DESCRIPTION
Jim Marlette (American, b. 1950)
Untitled Rose-Grey Mountain Pass
Oil on Paper | 36 × 25 in. | Signed “Jim Marlette”
Acquired in New York City
This 36×25 oil-on-paper composition presents one of Jim Marlette’s most sculptural and spatially layered landscape designs, shifting from wide open reflections to a more intimate, atmospheric mountain pass. The painting unfolds in soft rose tones, layered greys, muted mauves, pale blue-greens, and cloud-like whites, creating a harmonious tonal field.
Visual Composition & Technique
Foreground cliffs in deep slate-grey frame the scene, creating a natural “gateway” leading into the valley.
Mid-ground mountains rise in pale mauve and soft aqua, gently shifting tone through thin oil glazes.
A luminous water channel occupies the center, reflecting subtle vertical light and guiding the eye deeper into the distance.
Behind these forms, large, dissolving mist-mountains recede into atmospheric gradients—Marlette’s signature use of oil applied in watercolor-like transparency.
Cloud formations drift across the upper sky in swirling horizontal gestures, echoing Zen brush movement and breath-led strokes.
The soft edges, layering, and delicate blending create a calming, meditative interiority, consistent with Marlette’s lifelong practice of martial arts, meditation, and controlled breathwork. This piece, more than many, captures a feeling of inner passage—moving from constriction to openness—mirrored in the framing cliffs and emerging light.
This is a superb example of Marlette’s mid-1970s to mid-1980s mature style, when he refined his oil-on-paper method into a uniquely tranquil visual language, unmatched in softness, balance, and restraint.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — JIM MARLETTE (Born 1950, Pennsylvania)
(Included for catalog consistency and updated completeness.)
Jim Marlette was born in Pennsylvania in 1950 into an artistic family where drawing and painting were already integral parts of everyday life. Before devoting himself fully to fine art, he developed craftsmanship across several disciplines: jewelry, leather design, woodworking, and geometric acrylic painting. These early explorations contributed to his exceptional sensitivity to material, form, and precision.
Meditation, Martial Arts & Artistic Identity
Marlette’s practice of meditation, martial arts, breathwork, and controlled movement shaped his sensory understanding of rhythm and flow. His landscapes are often described as visual meditations—quiet, balanced, and internally resonant.
Oil-on-Paper Innovation
During the 1970s, Marlette moved into the fine art world with a specialty technique:
ultra-thin, layered oil glazes,
soft transitions reminiscent of watercolor,
a muted palette emphasizing harmony over contrast,
atmospheric depth built through breath-like strokes.
He became widely known for his serene minimalist landscapes, where mountains, light, and water dissolve into contemplative tonal fields.
Exhibitions & Legacy
Marlette’s work has been shown in galleries across the United States, developing a dedicated following among collectors of meditative, minimalist, and atmospheric art. His landscapes remain highly sought after for their subtlety, calm, and spiritual resonance.
Jim Marlette (American, b. 1950)
Rose-Grey Mountain Pass
Oil on Paper | 36×25 in. | Signed
Provenance: Acquired in New York City
Minimalist tonalist landscape with layered mountains, framed cliffs, and luminous water channel. Excellent condition.
CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Jim Marlette (American, b. 1950)
Title: Rose-Grey Mountain Pass (assigned catalog title)
Medium: Oil on Paper
Dimensions: 36 × 25 inches
Signature: Lower right “Jim Marlette”
Date: Likely 1970s–1980s (mature period)
Provenance: Acquired in New York City; now in the collection of Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
Condition:
Excellent vintage condition; surface smooth, colors well-preserved, no tears, warping, or discoloration.
PROVENANCE CHAIN
Artist: Jim Marlette (American, b. 1950)
Initial NYC Gallery or Dealer Release
Private Acquisition in New York City
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
“Rose-Grey Mountain Pass” — 36×25 Oil on Paper by Jim Marlette | Minimalist Meditative Landscape
This 36×25 oil-on-paper painting by Jim Marlette features softly layered mountains in rose-grey tones framed by dramatic foreground cliffs. A luminous waterway leads into the distance, dissolving into mist and sky. Marlette’s signature oil-on-paper technique—thin, translucent layers applied with breath-guided strokes—creates a tranquil, meditative atmosphere.
Signed and acquired in New York City, this artwork epitomizes Marlette’s highly collectible minimalist landscapes, where serenity and subtle tonal movement define the visual experience.
DETAILED ARTWORK DESCRIPTION
Jim Marlette (American, b. 1950)
Untitled Rose-Grey Mountain Pass
Oil on Paper | 36 × 25 in. | Signed “Jim Marlette”
Acquired in New York City
This 36×25 oil-on-paper composition presents one of Jim Marlette’s most sculptural and spatially layered landscape designs, shifting from wide open reflections to a more intimate, atmospheric mountain pass. The painting unfolds in soft rose tones, layered greys, muted mauves, pale blue-greens, and cloud-like whites, creating a harmonious tonal field.
Visual Composition & Technique
Foreground cliffs in deep slate-grey frame the scene, creating a natural “gateway” leading into the valley.
Mid-ground mountains rise in pale mauve and soft aqua, gently shifting tone through thin oil glazes.
A luminous water channel occupies the center, reflecting subtle vertical light and guiding the eye deeper into the distance.
Behind these forms, large, dissolving mist-mountains recede into atmospheric gradients—Marlette’s signature use of oil applied in watercolor-like transparency.
Cloud formations drift across the upper sky in swirling horizontal gestures, echoing Zen brush movement and breath-led strokes.
The soft edges, layering, and delicate blending create a calming, meditative interiority, consistent with Marlette’s lifelong practice of martial arts, meditation, and controlled breathwork. This piece, more than many, captures a feeling of inner passage—moving from constriction to openness—mirrored in the framing cliffs and emerging light.
This is a superb example of Marlette’s mid-1970s to mid-1980s mature style, when he refined his oil-on-paper method into a uniquely tranquil visual language, unmatched in softness, balance, and restraint.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — JIM MARLETTE (Born 1950, Pennsylvania)
(Included for catalog consistency and updated completeness.)
Jim Marlette was born in Pennsylvania in 1950 into an artistic family where drawing and painting were already integral parts of everyday life. Before devoting himself fully to fine art, he developed craftsmanship across several disciplines: jewelry, leather design, woodworking, and geometric acrylic painting. These early explorations contributed to his exceptional sensitivity to material, form, and precision.
Meditation, Martial Arts & Artistic Identity
Marlette’s practice of meditation, martial arts, breathwork, and controlled movement shaped his sensory understanding of rhythm and flow. His landscapes are often described as visual meditations—quiet, balanced, and internally resonant.
Oil-on-Paper Innovation
During the 1970s, Marlette moved into the fine art world with a specialty technique:
ultra-thin, layered oil glazes,
soft transitions reminiscent of watercolor,
a muted palette emphasizing harmony over contrast,
atmospheric depth built through breath-like strokes.
He became widely known for his serene minimalist landscapes, where mountains, light, and water dissolve into contemplative tonal fields.
Exhibitions & Legacy
Marlette’s work has been shown in galleries across the United States, developing a dedicated following among collectors of meditative, minimalist, and atmospheric art. His landscapes remain highly sought after for their subtlety, calm, and spiritual resonance.
Jim Marlette (American, b. 1950)
Rose-Grey Mountain Pass
Oil on Paper | 36×25 in. | Signed
Provenance: Acquired in New York City
Minimalist tonalist landscape with layered mountains, framed cliffs, and luminous water channel. Excellent condition.
CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Jim Marlette (American, b. 1950)
Title: Rose-Grey Mountain Pass (assigned catalog title)
Medium: Oil on Paper
Dimensions: 36 × 25 inches
Signature: Lower right “Jim Marlette”
Date: Likely 1970s–1980s (mature period)
Provenance: Acquired in New York City; now in the collection of Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
Condition:
Excellent vintage condition; surface smooth, colors well-preserved, no tears, warping, or discoloration.
PROVENANCE CHAIN
Artist: Jim Marlette (American, b. 1950)
Initial NYC Gallery or Dealer Release
Private Acquisition in New York City
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
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