Untitled (Oil and Gas Tanks, Industrial Complex) c. 1935

Paul H. Winchell made this untitled drawing of oil and gas tanks, an industrial complex, with graphite on paper. The hatching and cross-hatching is really present here. It shows Winchell’s artmaking as a step-by-step process. The surface of this drawing is dense, like a field of tiny, energetic marks. Up close, you can see the individual strokes, building up the tones and textures. This detailed process is not hidden, it’s really out there. The water reflections are beautiful, the marks become more horizontal and fluid which contrasts with the hard, vertical lines of the industrial architecture. It's all about balance. The piece reminds me of the work of Charles Sheeler who was similarly drawn to the stark beauty of industrial landscapes. Winchell invites us to find unexpected beauty in the mundane, and to appreciate the way marks on a page can reshape how we see the world.