"Victorian Lady" Figurehead c. 1938

Molly Bodenstein made this watercolor, "Victorian Lady" Figurehead, and look at the way the washes bleed into each other, making soft, cloudy shapes. It’s almost like she’s feeling her way through the image, letting the paint guide her. The lady herself is kind of a ghostly presence, isn’t she? The paint is thin and watery, especially in her face and dress. It’s like she’s fading into the paper. But then, there are these moments of detail, like the sharp lines of her gloves or the little frill on her hat. These details give her a sense of reality, even though the overall effect is dreamlike. She reminds me a bit of Edward Gorey's illustrations, with her elegant, slightly haunted vibe. I love the way Bodenstein lets the process show. It's a constant push and pull between control and chaos, which is what making art feels like to me. It’s about embracing the unexpected and finding the beauty in the imperfections.