Wrought Iron Weather Vane c. 1937

Hugh Clarke made this drawing of a Wrought Iron Weather Vane, we don’t know when or with what, but it looks like graphite or ink on paper. The marks feel deliberate, carefully building up tone with small hatched lines. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the paper, coaxing the image into being. The texture is interesting. It’s like Clarke is trying to capture the rough, weathered quality of the metal. Look at the way he renders the leaves. They’re not smooth or perfect; they have a kind of crinkled, irregular surface. The light and shadow create a sense of depth, making the object feel almost three-dimensional. It reminds me of some of the early American folk art I've seen, simple and direct, but with a real sense of artistry. It brings to mind the work of Charles Sheeler, another artist who found beauty in everyday objects. They both share a similar appreciation for form and structure. Art's always an echo, a conversation. It's not about right or wrong, but about seeing things in a new way.