Toddy Ladle c. 1939

This drawing of a Toddy Ladle was created by Douglas Campbell, sometime between 1855 and 1995. The rendering of the wood is so delicate, isn’t it? It makes me think about the care and the craft of both the original object and Campbell’s beautiful, patient, study of it. Looking closely at the surface, I see the artist using these gentle washes of colour to evoke the textures, the slightly porous surface of the wooden bowl. There is a lot of subtle variation here, see how the artist has described the grain? It’s almost topographic, like a landscape in miniature. I like the way that the artist uses a limited palette to such great effect. The shades of brown are so warm and inviting. It reminds me a little of the work of Giorgio Morandi, or even Agnes Martin; artists who explore the possibilities of limitation. It’s interesting to consider the ways that artists can reveal the beauty of everyday objects through careful observation and attention to detail. It just goes to show, art is everywhere.