Walnut Burl Bowl c. 1936

Beverly Chichester made this drawing of a Walnut Burl Bowl, but we don't know exactly when. There are two bowls, one a simple, elegant line drawing, and one a tonal drawing. I can imagine Chichester sitting, observing every detail of the wood, the grain, the curves. She captures the feel of the wood through the colour, and even the cracks. She uses a fine touch, and you can see the delicate lines. It's like she's gently tracing the bowl with her eyes and hands, trying to really understand it. What was she thinking as she drew? Was it a memory of a cherished object? A study of form? There is a tenderness in the work. There is a quiet conversation happening between artist and object. It makes me think about the tradition of still life painting, and how artists like Morandi could find endless inspiration in the simplest of forms. Like Morandi, Chichester shows us how much beauty can be found if we really look.