Sewing Kit and Spool Box c. 1938

This is Edward L. Loper’s 'Sewing Kit and Spool Box', drawn with graphite and watercolor wash on paper. The sepia palette gives the piece the air of something aged. Up close, you see how Loper coaxes so much variation from this narrow range. He plays with the push-pull between hard-edged, geometric shapes and the more organic grain of the faux-wood. The checkered base is made up of tiny squares, each one carefully shaded to give an illusion of depth. It's a delicate balancing act to maintain this illusion. Loper reminds me a little of Joseph Cornell, who made those shadow boxes filled with ephemera. Both artists have this real talent for transforming humble, everyday objects into something precious. It makes you wonder about the stories these objects could tell. Art’s not always about grand statements. Sometimes it’s about finding magic in the mundane.