Saddle c. 1941

Hal Blakeley made this drawing of a saddle with watercolor on paper. I am drawn to the earthy tones, the way the color suggests the smell of leather. You know, it is interesting how the artist has carefully delineated the light and shadow, almost as if to give the saddle volume and weight on the page. Look at the flowers on the side. They're not just decorations; they create a whole other world. It makes me think about how we adorn objects, how we imbue them with meaning. The whiteness of the horn stands out amidst all that brown, like a flash of something pure. It's a reminder that even the most functional objects can have a touch of the sublime. It reminds me of the still life paintings of Giorgio Morandi, so simple yet so profound. Art is like that, it's an ongoing exchange of ideas.