Penny Bank c. 1938

This "Penny Bank" by Grace Halpin is like a little jewel box rendered with watercolor, a medium that has a beautiful delicate quality. Halpin uses the paint in a way that's almost transparent, layering the colors to create depth and shadow. You can almost see the ghost of the paper underneath. What I really love is the way Halpin captures the texture of the metal, especially in the filigree details around the sides. There’s a real sense of care and precision, but also a kind of playful abandon in the way she renders the details. It’s as though she’s both observing and inventing at the same time. Look at the little dome on the top, the way she models it with blues and grays. There is an amazing softness to it, like a little cloud. This reminds me of the work of Joseph Cornell, where everyday objects are elevated to the status of art through careful arrangement and attention to detail. Like Cornell, Halpin invites us to see the beauty in the ordinary, to find magic in the mundane.