Plate c. 1938

This watercolor, entitled 'Plate' was made by Byron Dingman. The way Dingman’s laid down these washes makes me think about how artmaking is a process. It's not just about the final product, but about the doing. I mean, look at the plate's surface; it's all these translucent layers, right? A dance of control and accident. What I love about the painting is the color. A pale background with muted blues and greens. The colors create a sense of depth, like you could dive right in. The brushstrokes around the edge of the plate have a delicate sensitivity, and they almost seem to vibrate. This artwork resonates with the work of Josef Albers, in the sense that both use color to create space. Just like Albers, Dingman understands that art is a conversation and an exchange of ideas. It reminds me that there’s a place for ambiguity and multiple interpretations in art.