View of Ball Mountain 1943

Milton Avery made this sketch of Ball Mountain with pen on paper. These are everyday materials, available to almost anyone. The spiral-bound notebook suggests a casual setting, a quick study dashed off in the open air. But don’t let the unassuming materials fool you. Note the economy of Avery’s line, how much information he conveys with so little. We can see the topography of the land, the texture of the trees, even the way the light is hitting the water. This wasn’t just a casual doodle. It was an exercise in perception, a way of training the eye and hand to work together. Avery was part of a generation of artists who challenged the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft. He showed that even the simplest materials, when handled with skill and care, could be used to create works of great beauty and depth. This drawing reminds us that art is not just about the finished product, but also about the process of making.