Roundout Creek c. late 1930s

Betty Waldo Parish made this image of Roundout Creek, though it's hard to tell when, using a monochrome printmaking technique. The whole thing is so textural, like it's been rubbed and worried into existence. I like how the marks build up to create this place, layer upon layer, with these fuzzy clouds hovering overhead. Check out the area just above the rooftops on the right - the strokes are so dense, giving a real sense of depth and weight. It's like Parish is piling up the atmosphere, making it almost as solid as the buildings themselves. You can imagine the artist building this scene one stroke at a time. It reminds me a little of some of the American scene painting of the early 20th century, like the work of Edward Hopper, with its focus on everyday life and the built environment, though Hopper was a painter. It's all about seeing the beauty and interest in the overlooked corners of the world. It's a nice reminder that art doesn't always have to be about grand gestures; sometimes, it's about the quiet observation and the layering of marks.