Water Towers 1955

Wade White made this small pencil drawing, Water Towers, at some point in his career. You can really see the process in the way he's built up the tones, layer upon layer. The texture of the paper is as much a part of the drawing as the marks themselves, this contrast of light and dark, and rough and smooth, gives it a really distinctive feel. Look closely at the way he's drawn the wooden staves on the water towers, and you'll see how the careful shading gives them form and depth. The X shapes which hold the staves together really catch the eye. White had a long career making work in a similar style, but I am reminded of Charles Sheeler, who also took inspiration from industrial architecture, but it's the personal touch that really makes this drawing sing. It reminds us that art is all about seeing the world in new and unexpected ways.