Sanctus Bell 1937

This is Syrena Swanson's painting of a Sanctus Bell, and from the look of the grain of the wood, I'd say it's been rendered in watercolor on paper. I'm imagining Swanson, so carefully observing the object and noting the different shades of brown. I can see how she's registered the texture of the wood, how the light falls on the curves of the handle, and the bell itself. It’s such a meditative act, isn’t it? To really look and then try to capture what you see with paint. And that brown, that’s a color that can be so easily dismissed. But look how she's made it sing! It reminds me of Morandi and his bottles, or even Agnes Martin and her grids. Swanson shows us that there is beauty to be found everywhere. And through her painting, she invites us to slow down, to pay attention, and to really see the world around us. It all has something to say.