Eagle with Cannon c. 1939

Hazel Hyde painted "Eagle with Cannon" in watercolor, and what strikes me is how she wasn't afraid to let the process show. It's like she's inviting us into her studio, saying, "Here's how I see the world, piece by piece." The color is almost monochrome – a warm, aged gold that feels both patriotic and antique. Look at the layering in the eagle's wings. See how each feather is defined with delicate strokes, building depth and texture? It's not about perfection; it's about the act of seeing and translating that vision onto paper. The cannon sits poised, ready but also a bit whimsical with that curled handle. Hyde reminds me of other self-taught artists like Bill Traylor, who used simple materials to create powerful images. There’s a rawness, an honesty, in her work that gets under your skin. It’s not about grand statements but about quiet observations, inviting us to find our own meanings in the details.