TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Tool Mark. Graphite drawing by John Whalley


I am fascinated with tools .... with wooden handles worn smooth by use 


Tool Belt. Graphite Drawng by John Whalley

..... flecked with paint ........


Art History. Oil painting by John Whalley

.... chipped, scratched and patinated with sweat and grease.


American Vocalist. Graphite Drawing by John Whalley


Lyle sent me a link to John Whalley's website and I was blown away by his exquisite drawings and paintings of old, forgotten tools.

"Since I was a kid, I have always been fascinated by old tools and found objects. At the same time, there's something about pencil and paper that I love. Just holding a pencil in my hands feels right. The pencil is something I have gotten to know so well. It's second nature." - John Walley

Class of 54. Graphite drawing by John Whalley

" His Maine studio is a bastion of detritus stacked neatly on shelves and tables - seashells, screw-drivers, hammers, balls of twine, assorted locks and keys, musical instruments, oxidized spoons, baskets and jars, buttons and more. Nothing is too distressed, tarnished or lost to obscurity to escape Whalley's attention and sympathy; when he draws a strand of frayed twine, you can almost imagine what it might have held together." - M.M. Cloutier

When I emailed John about using his images in this post he graciously sent the photograph (above) of some of his collections and a wooden dancing doll he made many years ago. If you are drooling over this photograph you will love the documentary about John's work here .

Still Life with Brushes by Jos van Wunnik. See Flickr photostream here.

Whenever I experience a bout of carpal tunnel syndrome I'm extremely aware of how precious my hands are to me as a wood carver or artist in general. My hands are my means of expressing myself. Without them I am rendered useless. My hands are the most precious tool's of my trade.

Pray for Rain by Asbestos
The artist, Asbestos is known for his beautiful series on hands. I have featured his work before in a post about Expressive Hands, here.

I Will Inherit These Hands. Mixed media on board by Asbestos

"This series of paintings focuses on the hands of street artists and my friends around me and serves to draw out the expression and personality that is ingrained in each and every pair of hands. They're the tools that seperate us from other animals, they can create and they can destroy, that's why they're so fascinating to paint. Every pair has it's own unique grain that highlights the personality of it's owner." - Asbestos

Dark Hands. Mixed media on found wood by Asbestos