Dents de Morcles, Swiss mountain landscape and Alpine Nature 2003

Hubertine Heijermans made this small watercolor painting of the Swiss Alps with light washes of muted blues, greens, and browns. You can see the process so clearly in the thin veils of color, like a slow meditation on the landscape. The material aspects of watercolor are so different from oils or acrylics. It's all about transparency and light; the way the white of the paper shines through the pigment. Look at the trees on the right, how she's used darker greens to create depth and shadow, but then left areas almost untouched to suggest sunlight filtering through the leaves. It’s a dance between control and letting the water do its thing. There's a lovely awkwardness about it too, especially in the barn, which has a slightly unsettling, wonky perspective. It reminds me a bit of Lois Dodd, who also found beauty in everyday scenes, embracing the imperfections and quiet moments that others might overlook. It's a gentle reminder that art doesn't always have to shout; sometimes, it whispers.