Stoneware Jug c. 1937

Arthur Mathews made this drawing of stoneware jugs with blue ink on paper, and I imagine him doing so in a very particular mood. It's like he's thinking through drawing, feeling his way through the forms. You see how the jugs aren't quite perfect, not symmetrical? It makes them feel more alive. And that bird, perched so casually, it's as if Mathews is saying, “Let’s put this here, see what happens." I wonder if he was looking at a collection of stoneware and just started doodling. It feels almost improvisational, as if he’s having a conversation with the objects, with the paper. The blue lines pop against the tan backdrop, defining shape and texture. It reminds me of other artists, maybe folk artists, who just make what they see, turning everyday objects into something special. It’s like a painter's meditation, you know? A way of looking and thinking, all at once. And it makes you want to pick up a pen and join the conversation.