Preserving Jar c. 1938

Clyde L. Cheney made this watercolor, called ‘Preserving Jar’, at an unknown date. The earthy palette of browns and reddish hues gives this preserving jar a grounded, almost elemental feel. I see art-making as a layering process, and here the color is applied in these translucent washes, building up the form bit by bit. You can almost feel Cheney’s hand moving across the page, coaxing the jar into existence. Check out the way the light glances off the rounded surface, those subtle gradations from dark to light that give it volume. See that little dab of blueish gray, right there in the middle, reflecting the light? It's so precise and delicate, giving the jar a real weight. It reminds me of Morandi’s still life paintings. Both artists share a fascination with humble, everyday objects. They invite us to slow down, to really look, and to find beauty in the mundane.