Teapot c. 1936

Rex F. Bush made this drawing of a teapot, we don't know exactly when, and I find that exciting! Look at how the colour is layered to build up the image. You can see the way the light hits the surface of the teapot. It’s all in these careful gradations, using different tones of brown. The paint looks quite thin and transparent in places, especially in the highlights, and this gives the form real depth and roundness. That little figure in relief is so evocative, isn't it? It almost looks like a memory or a dream, that image of the woman and well. The colour palette reminds me of some of Milton Avery’s quieter works. Both artists share a sensitivity to tone and a love of humble, everyday subjects. This piece feels like a reminder that art is all around us, in the objects we use and the stories they tell.