Design from Proposed Portfolio 1935 - 1942

Majel G. Claflin made this design for a proposed portfolio using watercolor. What strikes me is the way the colors interact, creating a harmonious yet vibrant composition. It feels like the piece grew organically, each color informing the next. The texture seems smooth, the colors applied in thin, transparent layers that allow the paper to breathe. Look at how the yellows and reds bleed into each other, creating a soft, almost dreamlike effect. The edges are crisp, but the overall feeling is fluid. The mirrored composition is interesting, yet asymmetrical. The mark making emphasizes the process of artmaking itself, the beauty and complexity of the natural world. Claflin’s work reminds me of Hilma af Klint, who, like Claflin, explored the intersection of abstraction and symbolism. Both artists embraced ambiguity, inviting viewers to find their own meanings within the artwork. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, an exchange of ideas that transcends time and space.