Guilford Press Cupboard c. 1936

Here's a water-colour of a Guilford Press Cupboard by Martin Partyka. It's intriguing to think about how this rendering came into being – the build-up of pale browns, and creams, slowly capturing the particular character of the wood, the shadows, and the overall form. It’s like Partyka is talking to the cupboard. I wonder what the relationship was between the artist and this object. Maybe he spent hours looking at it, trying to understand the essence of its being. The texture, the details – each carefully observed and translated through delicate strokes of the brush. The black paint is thin here, not heavy or overworked, but enough to give a sense of depth, a hint of mystery. Partyka, like all of us, is standing on the shoulders of giants, inspired by those who came before him, adding his unique voice to the ongoing conversation of art.