Preserve Jar 1935 - 1942

This is Clyde Cheney's drawing of a preserve jar, made with watercolor on paper. Look at how he builds up the color, the way the light seems to sit on the surface. It's all about process, about layering and letting the colors do their thing. The texture is so interesting; it’s like he’s trying to capture the roughness of the pottery itself. I love how the color shifts slightly from the bottom to the top, a kind of subtle gradient that gives the jar a real sense of volume. Notice the way he's handled the rim, that dark brown line that really defines the edge. It's a small detail, but it really makes the whole thing pop. It reminds me a little of Morandi, that same quiet focus on simple objects, turning them into something almost monumental through careful observation and a love for the materiality of paint. It makes you think about how we look at things, and how even the most ordinary object can be a source of endless fascination.