Pewter Creamer c. 1936

Charles Cullen made this drawing of a pewter creamer, and immediately I’m thinking about how drawing is a way of seeing. The soft graphite strokes, they're like a gentle caress, giving shape to the metal's cool curves. Cullen's really focusing on the creamer’s form. You see how the light seems to glide across its surface? It’s like he’s trying to capture the very essence of its material presence. Notice, also, how he's included these little studies around the central image, almost like a map of his thinking, or a kind of key to the way he sees. There's something almost Cézanne-like about it, a real dedication to observation and a willingness to let us in on the process. It's a reminder that art isn't just about the final product, it’s about the journey of seeing and understanding.