Pa. German Chalkware Mantel Ornament c. 1938

Inez McCombs made this watercolor painting of a Pa. German Chalkware Mantel Ornament, and I just love the idea of someone painting something that's meant to sit on a mantelpiece. Look at the way the colors bloom into each other, creating these soft, gentle forms. There are so many kinds of greens and reds, and the yellow fruits on the top have this wonderful, mottled texture. I can feel the artist carefully building up these layers, trying to capture the texture of the chalkware. Imagine how Inez might have been thinking about how to get the color just right. I love the way the leaves frame the piece, giving the eye a place to rest. They are so lush and inviting! It's a reminder that artists borrow from one another all the time. We're all just trying to figure out how to make something that feels alive.