Iron Kettle c. 1939

This is Herndon Hightower's "Iron Kettle," painted in watercolor. It's all about process, really. The brushwork is straightforward. Hightower's not trying to hide anything. What strikes me is the texture, or the illusion of it. Look at the way the light seems to catch on the kettle’s surface. The color is built up in layers, creating a sense of depth and age. You can almost feel the rough, pitted surface of the iron. Notice the handle. It's so straight and rigid. It’s this anchoring point that pushes against the rough surface of the kettle, the legs giving way beneath its volume. Hightower's choice of subject matter and his direct, unpretentious style reminds me of Giorgio Morandi, who also found endless inspiration in humble, everyday objects. And just like Morandi, Hightower shows us that even the simplest things can be beautiful.