Nails and Pins c. 1937

Wellington Blewett made this drawing called *Nails and Pins*, and it shows exactly that: pins and nails floating on the page. It reminds me of when I’m starting a painting. I have a blank surface and various tools, objects, and colours at my disposal. What to do first? How to begin? Blewett might have felt this way here. What a curious mind he must have had. I can imagine him handling each nail, observing the gradations of light on its surface, the way the metal reflects and absorbs its surroundings. The pins are so delicate in comparison to the robust nails with their thick, faceted heads. The artist carefully considers where to place each form in relation to the others. Does he want to create a sense of balance, tension, or harmony? Each mark is a deliberate act of inquiry. It's as if Blewett is asking, "What is a nail? What is a pin? And what can they become when placed together on a page?" The ongoing conversation between artists across time continues.