Design from a Proposed Portfolio 1935 - 1942

Majel G. Claflin made this gouache on paper and it feels like she was letting her imagination bloom. The whole composition emerges from this beige diamond shape in the center, sprouting into an array of colourful flora. I can almost see Majel at her table, trying out different arrangements, pushing the colors around until they felt just right. This isn’t about botanical accuracy. It’s more about the joy of inventing new forms, new combinations. The petals are pink, blue, brown, and yellow - not quite symmetrical but balanced. This work reminds me of other early 20th-century designers who were thinking about how art could be part of everyday life, how patterns and colors could transform our surroundings. It’s a conversation across time, each artist riffing on what came before, adding their own spin. It makes you wonder: what would Majel think if she could see how her designs continue to inspire?