Coverlet c. 1940

This is a rendering of a coverlet by Florence Milto, probably made on paper with colored pencils or paint. The colors are so vibrant—reds, blues, and greens, all dancing together like a garden in full bloom. What I love is how the texture of the cloth is implied rather than represented. See how the artist builds up the image from tiny marks? It’s a bit like pointillism, but more organic, more intuitive. The surface feels alive with a kind of quiet energy. And the repetition, the way the same motifs keep reappearing, slightly altered each time. It reminds me of the obsessive nature of craft, the way a simple gesture can become a meditation, a form of prayer. I find this piece so inspiring, it makes me want to get back in the studio and just lose myself in the act of making. It reminds me a little of the work of Ree Morton, with that same sense of playfulness and freedom.