Butter Mold c. 1941

Here's a drawing of a butter mold made by Mary Owen who lived from 1855 to 1955. You can see the repeated geometric motifs—stars within stars, lines bisecting triangles, and concentric circles. I wonder what it was like for her to study this object so closely, holding it in her hand, trying to capture its exact likeness on paper? It makes me think about the relationship between craft and art and where the boundary lies, if there is one at all. Maybe Owen was interested in how the process of depicting everyday objects could offer a way of seeing the world with fresh eyes. I love how the texture of the mold’s carved surface comes alive through the delicate lines and shading. There’s a softness to it, like the butter itself. Painters are always in conversation with each other and artists working in other media, borrowing and exchanging ideas across time. Owen’s drawing practice feels like a form of embodied expression, embracing the nuances and imperfections of the handmade. It's about opening up new ways of seeing and experiencing familiar things.