Boy's Coat and Trousers c. 1939

Mae A. Clarke made this drawing of a boy's coat and trousers sometime during her long life. I love the quietness of the palette: it's just lines, and the barest off-white ground. I'm imagining her sitting at a table, probably in daylight, calmly making a record of this particular set of clothes. You know, it's so straightforward, and it reminds me of how much drawing is about looking hard, about trying to describe something as simply as possible. Look at the back of that coat – you can see where the seams pull, how the fabric wants to move. The sleeves are kind of funny, like sausages. That simple, clear style relates to a lot of work by self-taught artists and designers. It reminds me that art is really just a way of looking and showing other people what you see. It's an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas, inspiring creativity through time. I love the quiet simplicity and humility of this drawing.