Andiron or Fire Dog c. 1941

Here’s "Andiron or Fire Dog," an undated watercolor by Paul Poffinbarger. The brushstrokes and palette of browns, grays, and cream evoke the weight and texture of iron, which just makes me think of the labor that goes into art and design! I can imagine Poffinbarger, brush in hand, carefully studying these andirons. What’s so cool is the way he renders the cool iron in warm colors. What do you think he was thinking about when he made this? Was he thinking about function versus form? He probably spent ages just considering how the light plays on the metal, and all those subtle shifts in tone! The elegant curves and details feel very decorative. Looking at this, I’m reminded of the art nouveau movement, and how artists and designers were blurring the lines between craft and fine art. All of these artists were in conversation with each other. And that’s what painting is all about, right? An ongoing exchange of ideas, inspiring creativity across generations. Each stroke is a conversation, each color a feeling, each form an idea taking shape.