Pestle and Mortar c. 1938

This watercolor of a pestle and mortar was made by John Swientochowski. Look closely, and you can see how the colour has been gently washed across the page, in a very soft, realistic style. What does it mean to paint something so ordinary? I guess John was interested in the way the light falls on these objects and the textures of the wood. I am interested in the care and attention involved in making this painting. It reminds me of the work of other artists, who focus on domestic objects, such as Giorgio Morandi. Painting is a way of slowing down, giving us time to notice the beauty of the everyday. The painting captures a moment, preserving it, and prompting us to reflect on the objects that surround us. Ultimately, painting is about exchange. Artists speak to each other across time and space. They give each other permission to explore, to see, to feel. Painting is a generous act of embodied expression, which embraces ambiguity and values multiple interpretations.