March Drawing 1943

Milton Avery made this little drawing in pen on paper; it’s a sketch in a notebook, and the spiral binding is clearly visible. It feels fresh, like he just pulled it off. I can just imagine Avery sitting somewhere, maybe in a park or by the sea, quickly capturing the scene before him. Look how the lines dance and weave, loosely defining figures and landscape elements. It's like he's trying to catch the essence of a moment. The woman in the middle seems to be drawing too; is she in conversation with him? Is she his wife, also an artist? Avery was known for his simplified forms and harmonious colors, and even in this simple black-and-white sketch, you can sense his sensitivity to composition and balance. The text at the bottom even gives us a sense of the color. This drawing reminds me that art is often about the process of seeing and feeling, not just about the final product. Avery’s sketch invites us to share in his experience, to see the world through his eyes, and to appreciate the beauty in the everyday. After all, we all stand on the shoulders of other artists who inspire us, and we pick up the conversation for ourselves.