Pipe c. 1939

Robert Clark made this drawing, Pipe, using graphite and watercolor. The drawing style here is so deliberate, with its attention to the details of the original pipe. The texture is incredible, the way Clark has rendered the grainy surface of the pipe, it looks like it is made of wood. You can see the pencil marks, each carefully considered. What’s interesting is the light source; it suggests the actual object must have been in front of him. The graphite creates depth, while the watercolor adds just a hint of warmth, a subtle glow that brings the pipe to life. The precision of the linework, and the slight imperfections, give it a unique character. It reminds me of some of the close studies of objects made by Jasper Johns. Art's like a game of telephone, each artist riffing on what came before. It's about embracing the questions, not just chasing the answers.