Jug c. 1939

LeRoy Griffith made this watercolor Jug in tones of umber and grey, with a light background. It reminds me of the way Morandi painted bottles. The surface has a kind of sheen that also looks matte, like the clay it's meant to represent. I like how you can see the brushstrokes following the curves of the jug; the way Griffith captures the light reflecting on its rounded surface. Look at the way they’ve rendered that handle, so sturdy and practical. It’s cool how someone can make something as straightforward as a jug feel so full of potential, like it could hold anything. It reminds me that art is all about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary, and the beauty in simple things. Like a really good bottle, this painting holds space, and contains a feeling. Isn't it interesting how the simplest forms can be the most compelling?