Lamp c. 1940

Lawrence Phillips, who lived an impressively long life, made this drawing of a lamp sometime during his lifetime with what looks like graphite or charcoal on paper. I love seeing how the soft, gray tones gently describe the glass and the shape of the lamp. You know, making a drawing is like having a conversation with an object. It's an attempt to understand what the object is and what it means to you. I can almost see Phillips considering each curve and facet, trying to capture the way light plays across its surface. And look at those perfect circles on the lamp's globe! Drawing each one must have been so meditative. It makes me think about how everyday objects can become extraordinary when we really look at them, and how, through art, we can share our vision with others. Artists build on each other and are in an ongoing conversation across time, inspiring creativity.