Wooden Dipper c. 1938

Elmer Weise, who lived a long life, made this Wooden Dipper painting with an intimate, loving kind of attention. It's like he’s not just showing us a spoon, but also whispering about process, about how things are made. The colors are quiet, mostly browns, and he’s using them to show us the scoop of the spoon and the curve of the handle. You can almost feel the smooth, worn texture of the wood and the way light might catch on its surface. Look at the top of the handle, see how he's carved out little details, a hole and some curlicues. It's not just about making something useful, it's about adding a little flourish, a bit of personality. It reminds me of Morandi, the way he could make everyday objects feel so special and full of feeling. Weise, like Morandi, invites us to slow down and really look, to appreciate the simple things and the care that goes into making them.