Winter Shadows c. 1960

Alma Thomas's watercolor, Winter Shadows, is full of blooming washes of color. I can see her dabbing at the paper, coaxing the pigment to spread, pool, and bleed, making the painting emerge through a delicate dance between control and chance. I feel for the artist here, trying to pin down the fleeting effects of light, shadow, and color in a winter landscape. She must have been working quickly, capturing a moment before it changed again. Look how she uses vertical strokes to suggest the bare branches of trees, and then layers washes of yellow and green to evoke the subtle hues of the winter sun filtered through the foliage. The splatters and drips add a sense of immediacy. I can almost feel the cold air and the dampness of the paper, a kind of conversation between nature and representation, very beautiful. It reminds me of other painters like Joan Mitchell, who worked with similar energy and freedom. I see all artists as part of one big conversation. Each artist adds their voice, inspired by those who came before, pushing the boundaries of what painting can be.