Toleware Tin Tea Caddy c. 1940

Clarence Dawson made this watercolour and graphite drawing of a Toleware Tin Tea Caddy. Just looking at the image I can imagine Dawson, sleeves rolled up, deeply focused on the interplay of light and shadow on the tin's surface. There's a softness in the way he’s rendered the metallic sheen. See how the delicate washes of graphite create a subtle texture, almost like the tin is breathing on the page. I wonder what he was thinking as he painted the decorative flower – was he trying to capture the simple charm of folk art? The colours are so muted and delicate. It reminds me of other early American painters, who found beauty in everyday objects. Dawson’s drawing is part of this lovely, ongoing conversation between artists, each of us trying to make sense of the world around us. It’s this exchange of ideas and ways of seeing that keeps the creative spirit alive.