Pa. German Plate 1937

This Pennsylvania German Plate by Eugene Shellady is a watercolor on paper, and it feels so tenderly handmade, doesn’t it? The ochre ground and earthy greens are so distinctive. It's the kind of palette that seems both old and new, simultaneously. Look at the way Shellady’s put down those looping fronds. They remind me of botanical drawings but with a funky twist. I wonder what Shellady was thinking when they made this? Maybe they were just doodling, letting their hand lead the way, enjoying the way the watercolor bleeds and blooms on the paper. I can imagine them stepping back and thinking 'this needs a bit more here' or 'that color just isn’t right'. It makes me think about other artists who work with folk motifs. There is an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. And, for me, that's where the magic happens.