SKU: 47711855990

‘WATERMELON’ BY JOSEPHINE MAHAFFEY (1960s)

Sale price$177.75 Regular price$197.50
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $49.38 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 24 - Jul 29

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

‘WATERMELON’ BY JOSEPHINE MAHAFFEY (1960s)Botanical portrait of the stem end of a watermelonpossibly one she grew on her Jacksboro Highway farmby prolific Fort Worth painter JOSEPHINE MAHAFFEY (19031982). Painted on artists paper in the early 1960s, the combination of rapid fire brushwork and bold color selection practically defines her stylesomewhat dizzying, but unfailingly coherent. Mahaffey was notorious for painting on anything that was at handscraps of newsprint, brown paper bags, even

Botanical portrait of the stem-end of a watermelon—possibly one she grew on her Jacksboro Highway farm—by prolific Fort Worth painter JOSEPHINE MAHAFFEY (1903–1982). Painted on artist’s paper in the early 1960s, the combination of rapid-fire brushwork and bold color selection practically defines her style—somewhat dizzying, but unfailingly coherent. Mahaffey was notorious for painting on anything that was at hand—scraps of newsprint, brown paper bags, even roadmaps. Signed by the artist. Hang it in a bright kitchen or a solarium!


JOSEPHINE VAUGHN MAHAFFEY was dubbed “Mama Mahaffey—the Texas Dynamo” in 1957 by Coronet Magazine, an acknowledgment of her enormous gift for high-speed composition. Always working “in the moment,” Mahaffey combined rapid brushstrokes with earthiness and high energy to produce an astonishingly large and complex legacy of art.

Born into a rural farming family in Hopkins County in northeast Texas in 1903, Mahaffey spent her childhood further south in San Marcos. She studied art at the College of Industrial Arts (now Texas Woman’s University) in Denton, where she won an art contest with a picture painted using different tones of shoe polish. She moved to Fort Worth as a newlywed in 1922 and began receiving art instruction from landscape artist Sallie Blyth Mummert (1888-1938). The tutelage continued until Mummert’s death. Mahaffey also studied with area artists Clinton Blair King (1901-1979), Octavio Medellin (1907-1999), and Kathleen Lawrence (1906-1983). She would later return to TWU to earn her B.A.

Mahaffey operated a grocery store in Fort Worth for several years and built the business to include three stores before selling to a chain. With the proceeds, she bought a ranch on Jacksboro Highway north of Fort Worth (a previously notorious strip of Highway 199) and opened a private art gallery where she focused on her art and her passion for communicating her love of painting to others.

Mahaffey worked primarily in water-based paints but was proficient in the use of oils and encaustics when economics allowed. She was known for her work with many different surfaces. The choice of media and support was always secondary to the act of painting. She looked to the faces of family and friends for inspiration, to the barnyard and gardens of her farm, the shores of Lake Worth, and the urban landscapes of Fort Worth.

Over time, Mahaffey’s pursuits evolved into teaching and advocacy for arts education. She taught at the Woman’s Club of Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Art Center, the Northside Boys Club, and the Arlington YWCA. Her policy was to provide lessons regardless of a student’s ability to pay. In addition, she participated in workshops, was a charter member of the Fort Worth Art Association, president of the Professional and Amateur Art Association, and a judge of many art shows. She exhibited work internationally and locally and was best known for shows at the Texas State Fair. In 1968, the Fair honored her with a “Josephine Mahaffey Day.”

Mahaffey had seven sons and a daughter over the course of her dual career as a businesswoman and artist. In later years, despite her gregarious nature, she eschewed the familiar and turned inward. She died in 1982. Her influence lives on in scores of private and public collections in North Texas. In 2010, the Fort Worth Community Arts Center hosted a retrospective of her work.


You’ve got to get it down fast, or else you lose it. – JOSEPHINE VAUGHN MAHAFFEY


DETAILS

Artist – JOSEPHINE VAUGHN MAHAFFEY (1903–1982)

Period/Year – 1960s

Origin – USA

Styles/Movements – AMERICAN; MODERN

Media – WATERCOLOR

Support – RAG PAPER

Colors – CELADON, ARMY GREEN, DOVE GRAY, SKY BLUE

Condition – Excellent vintage conditioner⁹. May show minor signs of previous ownership and use.

Dimensions – 15" H × 13" W × ¾" D

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 47711855990

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.5 ★★★★★
Based on 21 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
F
Verified Purchase
Flamboyant King
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 3
Color stain
Color: Burgundy, Size: X-Large
Very good design and well fitted for an XL; however, the clothing stained my wife beater with the reddish color making it hard to wash out.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2026
F
Verified Purchase
Fly Above 2
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect!!!
Color: White, Size: X-Large
This shirt looks really, really good on my husband!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2022
S
Verified Purchase
Shanika Commodore
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 1
Not like the picture
Color: Black, Size: Large
Not like the picture
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2021
B
Verified Purchase
Bradley
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Sharp shirt, smooth style, smiles shine!
Color: Maroon, Size: XX-Large
I got the COOFANDY Men’s Stretch Dress Shirt (Long Sleeve, Regular Fit) for my best friend’s wedding, and it was fantastic. I matched it with my fiancé’s outfit, and the vibrant color looked amazing in photos. The fabric is smooth, the fit is flattering, and the shirt is stretchy in all the right places, making it incredibly comfortable to wear all day. I felt sharp, confident, and stylish — exactly what you want for a formal event. The buttons, stitching, and overall quality are solid for the price.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2025
S
Verified Purchase
Sanjulee
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice quality shirt, true to size
Color: Light Green, Size: XX-Large
Nice material and fit is accurate. However shirts are rolled up in a tube, so if you need to wear the shirt the day you receive it be prepared to iron it!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2026

recommand products