Doorway, Stone c. 1940

Juanita Donahoo made this watercolor painting, "Doorway, Stone," at some point in her long life, and it's such a poetic observation. Look at how Donahoo builds up the image with soft, washy layers. It’s all about the delicate balance between control and letting the pigment do its thing. The whole composition is built from humble materials: stone, brick, and mortar. It's really about the textures here, isn't it? See how the stones are rough and varied, but the bricks are so orderly? The artist gives us this contrast to chew on. I’m drawn to the blocked-off doorway, like a question. Was it closed off intentionally, or is it just nature taking its course? Donahoo shows us art's ability to find beauty and intrigue in the everyday. Like a lot of outsider art, the artist focuses on what’s right in front of them, finding profundity in the mundane.