Copper Tea Kettle c. 1940

Wayne White painted this copper tea kettle, but we don't know when. It's a still life that feels incredibly alive, maybe because of the way the artist seems to relish in the sheer process of making. Look at the surface - it's all about texture, color, and the physicality of the medium. White uses thin washes of paint, letting them layer up to create this luminous, almost vibrating effect. The copper isn’t just brown; it's a symphony of reds, oranges, and a little green that catches the light. I love the way he handles the shadows and highlights, making the metal feel warm and inviting. He builds up little marks and gestures to create this amazing sense of depth. This approach reminds me of Giorgio Morandi, who also found endless fascination in simple, everyday objects. Like Morandi, White encourages us to slow down and really see the beauty in the mundane, to appreciate the magic that happens when art embraces ambiguity.