Begonia 1929

Here we have Howard Cook’s rendering of a Begonia, made with graphite on paper. You can tell this was a real labor of love. Look at how the artist has crafted these leaves, one after another, layering dark and light to create the illusion of volume. The shadows are like little velvety smudges, aren’t they? See how this gives the plant this cool, almost sculptural presence. It’s like he's not just drawing a plant, but building it, stroke by stroke. And that single, bright white flower at the bottom, just off-center. It practically glows, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s just me, but I get a Giorgio Morandi vibe from this piece. All of his works have a kind of stillness that you can really get lost in. Both artists are so good at showing us how much life can be found in the quiet corners of our lives.