Child's Dress c. 1936

Catherine Fowler made this watercolor of a child’s dress, at an unknown date, with such an intricate pattern. You know, when I look at a piece like this, I immediately think about process. How does one even begin to create such a thing? It's all in the details with this artwork. The repeating motifs of red, yellow and black create this overwhelming effect. You can almost feel the texture of the fabric just by the way the colors are laid out. Each mark feels so deliberate and meticulously placed, like each one carries so much weight. You know, something like this reminds me of the work of Bill Traylor. They both possess a kind of raw honesty and directness. There’s something so beautiful and sincere about their work. It's like they're just showing you exactly what they see, without any pretense or artifice. It’s up to us to find meaning in the ambiguity.