Detail of Confessional c. 1940

Harry Mann Waddell made this drawing, ‘Detail of Confessional’, with watercolor, graphite, and brown ink. It's a process of seeing and then describing, a kind of focused meditation. The color is fascinating; it's not just brown, it’s a symphony of browns, tans, and creams. The surface is smooth, but within that smoothness, there's a whole world of texture suggested. Look at the way he renders the wood grain, it's like a map of a tiny universe. I’m drawn to one particular swirl of ink on the upper left. It’s subtle, almost hidden, but it gives the whole piece a sense of movement. It's a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about the artist's hand, his touch, his unique way of seeing the world. I find in Waddell's work a similar focus on detail as someone like Agnes Martin, although Martin's language is more abstract. Both artists use repetition and subtle variation to create a space for contemplation, they remind me that art is an ongoing conversation, a way of seeing and thinking.