Candlestick c. 1937

Beulah Bradleigh made this watercolour, "Candlestick," sometime during her long life. I wonder if she was thinking about Modernism when she painted this, because I see echoes of the clean lines and focus on form that you find in Cubism or Art Deco. I can imagine Bradleigh, in her studio, carefully laying down each stroke to capture the subtle play of light on its surface. Look at the way she uses soft blues and grays to give the candlestick a silvery sheen. The brushstrokes feel gentle, almost caressing the form, creating a sense of quiet contemplation. I’m curious about what drew her to this particular object. Was it the way the light danced on its surface, or the simple elegance of its design? I’m reminded of Giorgio Morandi’s still lifes—everyday objects transformed into something poetic through the artist’s attentive gaze. Painters are always in conversation with each other, across time, inspiring each other’s creativity. Painting is an invitation to slow down, to look closely, and to find beauty in the unexpected.