Quilt II 1965

Alexander Calder made this watercolor called ‘Quilt II’ in 1965 with watercolor and ink on paper, and you can see how he really lets the materials do their thing, the colors bleed and run, and the grid he paints sort of wobbles. It’s like he’s having a conversation with the paint. Up close, you notice how the ink is almost velvety in places and how the watercolor pools and stains the paper. There’s this juicy orange circle up in the corner, and the thin, washy grid lines stretch out, like they’re reaching for something. Those lines remind me that painting isn’t just about making an image, it’s a process, a dance between intention and accident. Calder’s got this playfulness that reminds me of Miró, but he really makes it his own, and it feels fresh, like he's just letting his imagination run wild on the page. It’s a reminder that art can be light, joyful, and full of surprises.