Two Wall Doors c. 1937

Majel G. Claflin made this drawing of two wall doors in Taos, New Mexico. The rendering is delicate and subtle, with soft graphite, watercolor and pencil hues. You get the feeling that Claflin enjoyed the process of making this piece, slowly and patiently building up tone and detail. I love the way the artist's hand has carefully followed the grain of the wood. The doors have this almost cartoonish quality, a kind of gentle distortion, as if they’ve been pulled from a dream. Look how the hinges appear almost crudely attached to the doors. There's something honest in this presentation, like she's sharing with us what is in front of her with both affection and respect. It reminds me of those folk artists who take everyday objects and turn them into something magical. Maybe like Bill Traylor, finding beauty in the mundane and reminding us that art is everywhere if we just take the time to see it.