Invalid's Chair 1937

Orville A. Carroll painted this watercolor on paper, "Invalid's Chair," and it’s got me thinking about comfort, care, and what it means to be held. I can imagine Carroll carefully rendering each curve and join, the subtle gradations in the wood, and the way the light catches the fabric. It’s like he’s not just painting a chair, but painting the feeling of sinking into it after a long day. The level of detail is striking. You can imagine how soft that cushion is, how the wood might feel smooth and cool under your hand. The way he's painstakingly depicted this, is almost a love letter to the object itself. It reminds me of other artists who find beauty in the everyday, elevating the mundane into something extraordinary. In painting, the simple act of paying attention becomes a way of honoring the world around us and inviting others to see it anew.