Puppet: Pirate c. 1936

Beverly Chichester made this watercolor of a puppet, a pirate no less, at some point during her long life. And I just love the handmade quality of the piece, the way the marks and colours reveal the decisions she made as she went along. The pirate's bold red shirt and hat draw you in, but then your eyes find the details: see how the paint is applied so thinly in some areas that you can see the paper underneath, while in others, it’s built up to create texture. It's as if Chichester is inviting us to witness her process, not hiding anything. Look closely at the green and reddish-brown skirt – the brushstrokes are loose and gestural, full of energy and movement. It is like the garment is caught in a swirl of colour. Chichester’s art reminds me a bit of Red Grooms, who also worked with a joyful, kind of slapdash approach. What both artists share is an openness to the possibilities of artmaking, embracing imperfection and letting their imaginations run wild. There are no mistakes, only opportunities.