Civil War Drum

This civil war drum was drawn by Wayne White, sometime between 1890 and 1978. What’s so appealing is the way the colours seem to seep into one another, like watercolour bleeding on a slightly damp surface, embracing its own materiality. Up close you can almost feel the rough texture of the drum skin. Look how the red at the top and bottom almost vibrates against the blue in the centre, creating an intense optical buzz. It's like White is inviting us to consider the real object this drawing represents; something weathered and worn, with the marks of use still visible. You can really see the hand of the artist in this piece. I'm reminded of the work of Philip Guston, how he embraced a kind of clunky, raw aesthetic in his paintings, as if to say, "hey, this is just paint on canvas!" There is something so honest about that approach. It makes you want to grab some paints yourself and start making a mess.