Copper Sugar Strainer c. 1939

This is a watercolour of a Copper Sugar Strainer made by Annie B. Johnston. The simplicity of the palette – browns, creams, greys – gives the piece a humble quality, like a faded memory. The object bobs there in the centre of the page, almost weightless. Look closely at the surface. The paint handling is so delicate, almost translucent. It reminds me of Andrew Wyeth's work, but without the gloomy intensity. In contrast to Wyeth, this feels like it's about something homespun. The slightly wonky perspective and careful attention to detail almost elevate the everyday into something precious. It's a beautiful, quiet observation. It reminds us to look closely at the world around us. Maybe that's the point, to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. The object is, after all, a tool. A vessel. It strains, it separates, it filters. It is not unlike the work of the artist.