Untitled 2016

Kinder Album made this watercolor with ink, and what looks like maybe graphite, sometime after 1982. The dark, moody background is achieved through multiple layers of watercolor wash, while the figure and architectural elements are outlined with fine pen strokes and then filled in with simple washes. The paint is thinned to an almost translucent consistency, allowing the paper's texture to show through. Look at how the artist has carefully layered the blue in the woman's skirt to create depth and movement. There's a contrast between the precision of the line work, and the fluidity of the washes, especially in the dark night sky. The splattered marks of white paint, suggest a blizzard, which adds to the scene’s emotional resonance. It makes me think of outsider artists like Henry Darger, in the way the figure is both simplified and iconic. It’s this constant play between control and chance, that makes the piece so compelling. It reminds us that art isn't about perfection; it's about embracing the unexpected and discovering beauty in the process.