Copper Tea Kettle c. 1940

Here's Wayne White's *Copper Tea Kettle*, painted with watercolor – a tricky medium, right? – on paper. The whole thing feels warm. I can imagine White there, patiently layering each stroke to build up the sheen of the copper. It’s like he’s trying to capture the very soul of this kettle, its history of heating water, of early mornings and cozy evenings. I bet he was thinking about light, how it bounces and curves around those rounded forms. Notice the little frog detail on the lid. That little touch feels so personal, like a wink from the artist. It reminds me a little bit of Morandi, the way he took something so everyday and turned it into something profound. We are all constantly riffing off each other. I love the conversation of painting, how it lets artists make something new from something old. Each brushstroke is its own little discovery, a small way to find and express the joy in seeing.