Coat Suit c. 1937

Ray Price made this drawing of a coat suit, but we don't know exactly when. It's rendered with coloured pencil on paper. What strikes me is the way the colour softly models the form, giving depth with subtle tonal variations. It's all about the process of gradual build-up, layer upon layer. You can see how the weave of the fabric is suggested by the short broken marks of the pencil, especially on the longer skirt. The texture feels almost velvety, beckoning to be touched. But it's the drawing’s precision in the detail – the buttons, the pleats, the way the collar turns – which really gives this garment its air of sophistication. See how the light seems to catch the edges, making it almost glow? Thinking about other artists, it makes me think a little bit of Agnes Martin's drawings, but maybe a bit warmer. In the end, it's about seeing how an artist can create a whole world with simple marks and a limited palette. It's an ongoing conversation, isn't it?