Crow's Nest Tilt Top Table c. 1936

Herbert Marsh’s drawing of a Crow's Nest Tilt Top Table is rendered in delicate watercolor and pencil on paper. Look at the subtle gradations of color across the surface of the wood! I can imagine Marsh carefully observing every detail, trying to capture the essence of this everyday object. What was it like for him to recreate a three-dimensional object on a two-dimensional surface? It must have been an act of translation. Notice the various small sketches too. The eye travels around the piece, lingering over the curves of the legs and the texture of the tabletop. There is an undeniable beauty in the humble objects that surround us. It reminds me that artists are always in conversation with one another, across time and space, sharing ideas and inspiring creativity. We create a sense of wonder from the mundane! It is up to us to find meaning, embracing ambiguity and uncertainty.