Traveling Coat 1935 - 1942

Nancy Crimi made this watercolor of a ‘Traveling Coat’. The warm brown shades are so subtle, they create a soft glow, and you can almost feel the quilted collar – like a warm hug on a cold day. I love how Crimi captured the texture, the way light plays on the folds and curves of the fabric, making you want to reach out and touch it. I wonder what Crimi was thinking as she painted this? Maybe she was dreaming of journeys, bundled up in this very coat, watching the world go by. It’s interesting that she painted the back of the coat – what is being concealed from the viewer, and what can be seen? What kind of woman would wear such a garment? It reminds me of other artists who’ve captured the essence of everyday objects, finding beauty in the mundane. We painters are always in conversation, aren’t we, each of us inspired by those who came before, interpreting the world in our own way, finding new ways to see and feel.