Shaker Cabinet c. 1937

Winslow Rich made this "Shaker Cabinet" drawing with graphite and watercolour. The delicate rendering reminds me that artmaking is as much about process as it is about the final product, an act of devotion. See how Rich captures the wood grain with soft, diluted washes of colour? This gives the piece an open, airy feeling, even though it depicts a solid, functional object. I love the way the light seems to glow from within the cabinet, highlighting the subtle variations in tone. Notice the vertical strokes in the panels of the door, they are echoed in the way Rich renders the shadows on the side, creating a rhythm. This reminds me a little of Agnes Martin's work, because the simple subject matter is treated with a great deal of care and attention. It's a reminder that art can be found anywhere, if you know how to look for it. And, like a Shaker cabinet, art can be both beautiful and useful, offering us new ways of seeing and experiencing the world.