Stirrup c. 1940

Harry Mann Waddell made this watercolor on paper, Stirrup, sometime in the 20th century. Look at the splotches surrounding the central image, like splattered coffee stains. I can imagine Harry bending over this thing, carefully rendering the leather, the eagle, the star, and the heart, but then letting himself go, surrendering to the liquid chaos of the watercolor. He probably used a thin brush to get those intricate details in the silver ornaments, with their cute, folksy Americana feel. But then there's that gorgeous, worn leather of the stirrup itself! It looks like he layered the washes to give it depth and texture, like he was really feeling the weight and history of the thing. It reminds me a bit of the Shaker gift drawings; it's like he's trying to capture some kind of essence, not just the object itself. He's letting his hand and the water do their thing, allowing for mistakes, embracing the imperfection. It’s a kind of conversation.