Coin Purse c. 1938

Ray Price made this drawing of a Coin Purse, we don’t know exactly when. The piece is built up with these careful little marks, an interplay of green and gold that gives it a woven effect. It's clear Ray was someone who paid close attention to the world. Look closely, and you’ll see it’s not just about representation. It’s about touch, rhythm and the sheer joy of mark-making. The texture almost vibrates, doesn’t it? It’s like you could reach out and feel the weave of the purse. The artist is doing something with color that is at once simple and sophisticated. See how the shimmer of the green contrasts with the muted, earthy gold? It’s subtle, but it gives the whole piece a kind of energy. My eye is drawn to the place where the purse cinches in the middle; there's a kind of dance there. This reminds me a bit of some of the textile artists I love, like Anni Albers, who also understood the power of simple forms and repeated motifs. It’s a reminder that art is all about conversation. We’re all just riffing on each other.