Pie Plate c. 1936

This gouache of a pie plate, by Rolland Livingstone, shows a view of the object from different angles. I can just imagine Livingstone, born way back in 1855, carefully laying down these delicate washes. The plate, rendered in reddish-brown, is enlivened by a looping yellow spiral. It’s playful, like a strand of silly string. The paint is applied in thin layers, allowing the form to emerge gradually. And I wonder, as Livingstone worked, did he have a real pie plate nearby? I love how artists look to the everyday for inspiration, and how one artist’s exploration can lead to another’s. It reminds us that art is a constant conversation. It’s a reminder that there are many ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world.