Knitted Doll with Flag c. 1937

Here are two knitted dolls holding flags, rendered in watercolor by Verna Tallman. The vertical pink strokes that make up the dress and the flag are so consistent and calm, as if each stroke is a meditative act. I feel the slow, meticulous process of making, and imagine Verna carefully building each form, one stroke at a time. I can relate because that’s how I approach painting; a deliberate and focused act. Verna layers hues of pink and red, to create texture and form in the garment. That soft palette makes me think of Lois Dodd’s watercolors. Like Dodd, Verna brings a gentleness to her work; however, unlike Dodd, Verna’s act of painting might be related to folk art. Her commitment to craft and material echoes generations of anonymous makers. It’s a quiet act of devotion that creates meaning over time.