Coverlet c. 1936

This coverlet, made by Ralph Atkinson, is a riot of colour. Red, white, green and blue, formed into stripes and motifs, an exuberant demonstration of vernacular art. I can just imagine Atkinson at his loom, carefully planning his design. I wonder if he had a sketch or a template to work from, or whether it came from his head? I see the flowers, the stars, the dots, all those carefully repeated patterns. They are like musical notes; each placement must have been precisely calibrated. I love the way the different blocks of colour abut each other. It feels very modern, almost like a geometric abstraction by Ellsworth Kelly! Atkinson's colour sense makes me want to go back into my studio, throw caution to the wind, and load my palette with the wildest combinations imaginable. He reminds me that art is a conversation across time and place. We are all constantly learning from each other.