Thimble Case c. 1937

David P. Willoughby’s ‘Thimble Case’ presents a small series of objects rendered in delicate washes of watercolour. I can imagine him, the artist, completely absorbed in this, slowing down to look and describe. He’s offering us a quiet composition, full of curiosity about how things are made, how they fit together. An acorn top and seed hang above a little woven container. Each is painted with attention to detail, and care for texture and form. But I wonder, is the painting an instruction, a memory, or a celebration of an everyday, handcrafted object? I love how his work makes me consider the intimacy of the handmade. The way we hold and use things like thimbles connects us to a slower, more deliberate way of life. It reminds me of other artists who find beauty in humble objects, transforming the ordinary into something precious.