Wood Sugar Bowl c. 1941

David S. De Vault made this wood sugar bowl into a watercolor of gentle hues. I can imagine him carefully layering the washes of paint. It’s so satisfying when you see the wood grain come alive under his brush, each ring telling a story, a gentle dance between light and shadow. De Vault is so committed to the object. I bet he enjoyed studying its form, really getting to know every curve and groove of the wood. Look at the way he’s captured the simple elegance of the bowl! It makes me think about all the times I’ve tried to capture the essence of an object in my paintings. It’s not just about rendering what you see, but about feeling it, too. Painters are always looking at each other’s work, riffing and remixing ideas across time and space. De Vault invites us to slow down, to really see the beauty in the everyday.