Churn c. 1941

David S. De Vault’s “Churn” is a lovely, humble painting. The colours are muted, mostly earth tones, but there's this incredible burst of blue in the floral design. It’s like finding a hidden melody in a quiet song, which is very him. The surface is smooth, and you can see the subtle gradations of colour. It’s like the artist caressed the paper, slowly building up the form. I think the way he’s rendered the lip of the churn, with those soft, blended shadows, it gives this sense of depth. I can see the influence of American folk art, maybe even a touch of someone like Marsden Hartley, who found such beauty in everyday objects. Art is a conversation, right? This piece is like a quiet murmur in that ongoing dialogue. It reminds us to find beauty in the mundane, in the things we often overlook.