Possum Pitcher c. 1938

Ernest A. Towers, Jr. created this watercolor and graphite drawing of a possum pitcher, giving a humble object a monumental presence. I can imagine the artist squinting, carefully mixing shades of brown and gray, trying to capture the subtle gleam on the ceramic surface. It looks so tactile, as if I could reach out and feel the cool, smooth curve of its belly. The artist's attention to detail is fascinating. Look at the way the light catches the snout, highlighting the texture of the glaze, and the dark shadows delineate the roundness of the possum’s form. What was going through his mind as he worked? Was he charmed by the pitcher's whimsical design, its strange combination of animal form and domestic function? There is so much back and forth between seeing and painting; each stroke refines the idea, solidifying the possum's quirky character. It’s a conversation, a collaboration between artist, object, and medium. What can you bring to this exchange?