Pa. German Spice Jar c. 1938

Betty Jean Davis made this watercolor of a Pa. German Spice Jar, but we don't know when. Look at the lovely muted hues and the way the jar rises from its pedestal. I wonder what spices it once held? I imagine Davis carefully sketching the basic form and then adding the earthy, reddish-brown tones layer by layer. What a challenge to capture the light reflecting off the glaze! She's added these little organic motifs. They feel so intuitive. I'm thinking about how folk artists like Davis create their own visual languages. There's an innocence and freedom in her lines that reminds me of Henry Darger's work. It's like she's channeling a whole world of pattern and colour. It’s amazing how art can keep the conversation going.