Doll c. 1939

Carmel Wilson painted this doll, of unknown date, using watercolors. Look closely, and you'll see the whole thing is built up through small strokes and thin washes; Wilson’s process is all about layering. The colors mix in our eye, creating a soft, diffused effect. It reminds me of early color printing, where different colored inks were overlaid to produce a complete image. The ruffles around the hem of the doll's dress are a great example of this, where the repetitive brushstrokes create a sense of movement and volume. It’s like Wilson is building form from the smallest marks, a real labor of love. This feels connected to the work of outsider artists like Henry Darger, who also created elaborate fantasy worlds through obsessive mark-making. It makes me think about art as a deeply personal and transformative process.