Figurehead c. 1936

James Vail made this watercolor, called ‘Figurehead,’ sometime in the mid-20th century. Look at how the image comes into being through washes of color. Vail captures the three-dimensional quality of the original sculpture, I can almost feel the contours of the head, feathers, and flowing drapery. I wonder what it was like for Vail to be in the studio making this? I imagine he was really studying the light and shadow and thinking about form. See how the paint is applied thinly, allowing the whiteness of the paper to shine through? I think he was interested in how light reflects and defines the object. The details in the face and decorative elements show the artist’s close observations. It reminds me of folk art traditions, where everyday objects are transformed through artistic vision. This conversation between artists and art forms continues through time and always gives me inspiration. It's like Vail is talking to us now, inviting us to see the world through his eyes.