Toby Mug

Cleo Lovett made this *Toby Mug* sometime in the 20th century, using what looks like gouache or maybe watercolor. The way she approached this painting reminds me of how I think about artmaking – as a process of layering and seeing what happens. Look at how Lovett handled the colors. It's mostly browns and creams, but she uses these drippy strokes that make the mug look almost like it's melting or growing out of the surface. I love how these lines define the form, but they also hint at something else, like the mug is alive or has a secret. The paint isn't too thick, but you can still see the texture where she dragged the brush. It's interesting to think about what Lovett was looking at when she made this, and how she transformed something ordinary into something weird and wonderful. It reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi, who also painted humble, everyday objects. But while Morandi's paintings feel quiet and still, Lovett's *Toby Mug* has a kind of restless energy, like it's about to tell you a story, or maybe spill its guts.