Stoneware Jug c. 1938

Annie B. Johnston made this drawing of a Stoneware Jug at an unknown date using watercolor and graphite on paper. The umber glaze of the jug, is captured with earthy watercolor washes which feels spontaneous. Johnston's technique, seems almost like she's letting the paint drip and flow, gives the jug a sense of character and a kind of handmade-ness. It makes me think about artmaking as a dialogue between the artist and their materials. Look at the lower part of the jug, you see this mottled texture, achieved by layering different tones of brown. It’s like a map of the jug’s surface. This drawing reminds me of Marsden Hartley's portraits of everyday objects; there's this similar attention to form and detail that elevates the mundane to something worthy of contemplation. Ultimately, this piece is about seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world in new ways.