Plate c. 1936

John Dana made this drawing of a plate, sometime between 1855 and 1995. Dana’s taken a straightforward subject but there’s an element of abstraction, especially in the application of paint, that keeps things lively. The colors are earthy, which makes the piece feel grounded. But look at the way Dana applied the color – it’s not flat. The paint’s translucent in places, allowing the ground to show through, and creating depth and texture. The wave patterns are not perfect, they wobble. The glaze seems uneven, with those bubble-like effects at the right-hand side of the plate that disrupt the illusion of a smooth surface. This reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi, who spent his life painting bottles and other everyday objects. Both seem to suggest that you don’t need to go far to find something beautiful or interesting to paint. Sometimes, it’s right there in front of you.