Vase c. 1938

Cleo Lovett made this drawing of a vase sometime around 1850. You can see the blue pencil lines underneath the paint layer, almost like Lovett is showing you her working out. It's honest. The vase feels heavy, but the blue is like a visual trick, making it seem light as a feather. The paint itself is really interesting, not too thick, not too thin, but almost washy. It's not trying to hide anything. You can almost see Lovett's hand moving across the page. Take a look at how the leaves are rendered. They feel almost like a memory of leaves, or a platonic ideal of a leaf. The vase reminds me of the work of Mary Delany. Both artists give everyday objects a monumental presence, turning something simple into something, well, awesome. And I guess that's what art is all about, right?