Water Cooler c. 1940

John Tarantino made this "Water Cooler" at an unspecified date, and it's rendered in watercolor and graphite. What strikes me is the kind of gentle touch, the way the colors are laid down almost reverently, letting the graphite lines peek through. It’s like witnessing a quiet conversation between the hand, the eye, and the object itself. There's a real tenderness in the way Tarantino builds up the form of the cooler. It's not about photorealism, but about capturing the essence of the object. The paint is thin and transparent, allowing the surface to breathe. The way the blue floral pattern dances across the cooler's surface is particularly lovely. Looking at this, I'm reminded of the still lifes by Giorgio Morandi. Both artists share this interest in the poetry of everyday objects. Ultimately, this "Water Cooler" is about more than just a container for water, it's a meditation on form, color, and the simple beauty of the world around us. Art is an ongoing dialogue, a constant search, and a reminder that there's always more than one way to see.