Lazy Susan c. 1940

This drawing of a Lazy Susan by Harry Mann Waddell shows us that everyday objects can become extraordinary when rendered with care. Imagine Waddell, perhaps with a sigh of satisfaction, adding the last glimmers of gold trim to the lids. There's something deeply satisfying about the neat repetition of those little containers, each echoing the others. The palette is subdued – mostly whites and golds – giving the whole thing a hushed, almost reverent quality. It reminds me a little of Morandi's still lifes, those quiet arrangements of bottles and jars that somehow manage to capture the essence of being. You know, painting everyday objects like this is a way of slowing down, of really looking. It’s a humble act, but it can reveal hidden beauty, the subtle elegance of the mundane. It’s like Waddell is saying, "Hey, look at this thing. Isn’t it lovely?" And, you know what? It is.