Flask c. 1941

This drawing of a flask – artist Hal Blakeley – uses coloured pencil to achieve a subtle, dreamy effect. Look at the way Blakeley coaxes out the form with layers of gentle hues, blurring the edges ever so slightly – it’s as though the flask is shimmering into existence. The color palette, dominated by blues and greens with hints of purple, gives the piece a cool, ethereal quality. The details within the flask's design – the stylized fruit and leaves – are rendered with delicate precision. There is a sense of the artist’s careful, almost meditative process. The vertical lines of the vase create a rhythmic pattern, anchoring the composition and adding a sense of depth. This piece reminds me of the still lifes of Giorgio Morandi, who also found endless fascination in simple, everyday objects. Ultimately, this drawing celebrates the beauty of the understated, the quiet power of seeing the world anew through the lens of art.