One painted, Wooden Candelabrum, with Dove c. 1937

Majel G. Claflin made this watercolor of a painted wooden candelabrum with a dove. It's a study of something real, but the real thing is what's truly fascinating. I love the way the light is described here, how the form is built up with layers of transparent color. The candelabra itself is rendered with such care, with all the imperfections and signs of age on display, really emphasizing that it is more than just a functional object. The slightly chipped and worn edges along the candelabra's frame have this off-white, bluish hue and are just perfect, because they really tell you about how the object was made and used. There’s a quietness to the piece, a kind of reverence for everyday objects that reminds me of the still life paintings of Giorgio Morandi. But while Morandi was interested in form, Claflin seems more drawn to the stories that objects can tell. Both artists embrace the beauty of simplicity and remind us to slow down and appreciate the world around us.