Zoar Decorated Painting c. 1938

This watercolor and ink piece, “Zoar Decorated Painting,” was made by Jerry Guinta, who was born in 1855 and died in 1995. What I love about this piece is how the central inscription floats within this loose, floral border, like a memory or a song. The colours are muted, transparent – you can see the paper underneath, which gives it this feeling of being gently aged. Look at the rose in the bottom corner. See how it's outlined, and the petals are built up with these soft, washy strokes. There’s a sense of care, of tenderness in how those marks are laid down. The slight imperfections, like the unevenness of the lines or the asymmetry of the floral arrangement, they’re not flaws, they’re what makes it feel so personal, so human. It reminds me of the work of Bill Traylor, another artist who found beauty and meaning in the everyday. This piece is a reminder that art isn't always about grand statements. Sometimes, it’s about the quiet joy of making something beautiful with your own two hands.