Large Mug 1936

Elizabeth Jones made this watercolour of a mug sometime in her long life, which stretched from the mid-19th to the late-20th century, and I can imagine her studying its form carefully, her brush mimicking its curves. The mug is brought to life through a series of painterly explorations. Blobs of brown, green, and black meander across its surface, while inside, a pool of ochre hints at the liquid it once held. There’s a quietness to this painting, a sense of everyday contemplation. What could she have been thinking, spending her time making art in a long life? The soft, blended washes give the mug a certain weight, it really sits there. Jones's style reminds me of other folk artists who found beauty in the mundane. It’s like they’re having a conversation across time, each adding their own voice to the story of seeing and painting. In this simple mug, there is something so universal, a quiet reminder of our shared experiences.