Spur c. 1939

Here's Rose Campbell-Gerke's lovely watercolor painting of a spur, an object usually made of metal, here rendered in delicate washes. You know, I can imagine her, brush in hand, carefully mapping out the light glinting off that tooled leather. What's she thinking about? The way the light falls, or maybe the feel of the leather itself? The original object was 8 x 5 inches, so this is a pretty close representation! I am really fascinated by the flat background, in contrast with the three-dimensional qualities of the detailed painting. The beige paper almost blends into the tans and browns of the leather, bringing out the silver colour of the metal. I'm reminded of other artists who find beauty in utility, like those Shaker craftspeople or even some of the Pop artists. There's an ongoing dialogue between artists across time, each inspiring the next. For me, painting is all about embracing the unknown, allowing for multiple readings. It's about making space for ambiguity, for those "in-between" moments.