Doll c. 1936

Lillian Causey made this watercolor painting called ‘Doll,’ and look at the way she uses the paint! It’s all about the process, letting the colors flow and blend. The brown of the dress and cape is created with these beautiful, translucent washes, which makes the whole figure feel light, almost floating. It reminds me of Helen Frankenthaler’s soak-stain paintings; it's like Causey poured the color onto the paper and let it do its thing. The way the lines define the dress, with darker strokes emphasizing the folds, gives it shape and volume. And did you notice the unfinished sketch next to the figure? That ghostly outline gives us a peek into the artist’s process, like she's thinking through the possibilities. Causey’s work reminds me that art isn't about perfection, but about exploration and discovery.