Earthen Jug c. 1940

Ursula Lauderdale made this drawing of an Earthen Jug, we don't know when, using what looks like watercolors or colored pencil on paper. I am drawn to the way that Lauderdale captures this very ordinary object in such a soft and gentle way. It's amazing how much texture she coaxes out of a humble material like paper! If you look closely, you can almost feel the rough surface of the jug, the way the glaze has bubbled and cracked in the firing process. There are drips of brown and subtle pools of blues and greys that describe the form with such precision. The handle, in particular, is wonderfully rendered, with a smooth, almost tactile quality. I like the way the cool silver lid is rendered in a different way than the body of the jug, suggesting two separate materials. For me, this work speaks to the beauty and the care that can be found in the everyday. It makes me think of Giorgio Morandi, who also found endless inspiration in simple, unassuming objects. Art is an ongoing conversation.