Weather Vane c. 1936

Bernard Westmacott made this drawing of a weather vane, we don't know when, but he was born in 1855, so it could have been anytime from then onwards. It's simple - just pencil on paper - but there's a real sense of the thing itself. The shading gives the figure a sculptural quality, like it's a solid object. Look at the parallel lines suggesting the form of the angel; it's all done with such care. You can feel the hand of the artist, patiently building up the tones, thinking through the form. And, in a way, Westmacott is doing what any artist does - making something out of nothing. Taking a flat piece of paper and, through mark-making, creating the illusion of depth and volume. It reminds me of some of those early American folk artists who were also working with simple materials to create these amazing, iconic images. Maybe, like them, Westmacott was trying to capture something essential about the world around him, but, either way, it makes for a really lovely piece.