Amber Vase c. 1937

Richard Taylor's 'Amber Vase,' likely made with colored pencils, dances between precision and something a bit more dreamlike. The vase itself is rendered in layers of amber and gold, giving it a warm, inviting glow, but look closely and you'll notice these incised vertical marks suggesting the shape is more than just a smooth surface. The green handles and floral decorations, they're not quite symmetrical, are they? It's like Taylor is reminding us that perfection is overrated. There’s this playful asymmetry, a slight wobble that makes the whole thing feel alive. You can see how the colored pencil is applied in layers, building up the tones and textures. The colors are rich, but they're also kind of muted, like an old photograph. It reminds me a bit of Charles Burchfield's watercolors, that same love of the everyday, but with a touch of the fantastical. For Taylor, it’s not just about depicting a vase; it’s about capturing a feeling, a moment, a mood.