Shaker Chair Braids 1935 - 1942

Edward D. Williams made this study of Shaker chair braids with watercolour and graphite on paper. Look at these stripes of interwoven colours! The patient hand of the artist renders each horizontal band, and the woven verticality, with precision. I imagine Williams carefully mixing each shade, testing it, adjusting the hue, and then meticulously painting each braid. Was he thinking about the Shakers' commitment to simplicity, utility, and honesty when he painted? I like the meditative quality of repetition here. The braids are similar, yet each has its own unique colour combination. Notice how the texture of the paper shows through the thin washes of color. The red pops against the cooler blues and browns. This little study reminds me that the act of making, whether weaving or painting, is a process of discovery, a conversation between the artist and the materials at hand.