Drop-leaf Table c. 1936

Rex F. Bush made this drawing of a drop-leaf table, we don’t know when or with what, but it's a tender little watercolor. The way Bush used the paint is very gentle; it’s all about the soft gradations of color and tone, like he's coaxing the wood grain out of the paper. Look at the top surface of the table, how the light seems to skim across it – you can almost feel the smooth, polished surface. And the shadows underneath? They're not just dark; they're these complex, shifting blues and browns, giving the whole thing a sense of depth and weight. Bush’s drawing reminds me of Fairfield Porter's paintings, where the everyday becomes extraordinary through careful observation and a love for the quiet beauty of the world around us. Ultimately, this little table is a reminder that art is everywhere, in the things we use, and in the way we choose to see them.