Coverlet 1935 - 1942

Willoughby Ions made this design for a coverlet, and I can see the hand of the artist in its making. There's a real tenderness in how the marks are laid down in watercolor – the deep blues and reds are proof of that. I can imagine them thinking about how this coverlet would feel, trying to transfer that sensation onto paper, which is an act of translation. How to give warmth through color and form, but still keeping a cool head to design the layout and patterns? The ovals and rectangles are almost like words, a kind of secret, woven language. Maybe Ions was thinking about comfort, but also about geometry. As a painter, I’m constantly trying to be present in the moment of making, to allow the process to guide me. What I see in this coverlet is a kindred spirit doing just that.