48x12 inches
acrylic, watercolor paper, kraft paper on stained maple panel
$1600

The Jobs of Yesteryear series combines history and surrealism to tell the stories of obsolete jobs. A contemporary glimpse into the past, these mixed media paintings serve as a reminder of a time and stories long forgotten.

This particular Job of Yesteryear mixed media painting features a knife sharpener. Ever since humans started hunting with sharp things, man has realized the importance of keeping that thing sharp. Through trial and error, many methods developed over the millennia with grindstones becoming the most prevalent. During the Industrial Revolution, knife sharpening reached a much larger scale as factories churned out knives with huge automated systems. These included the sharpeners, who would lay on their stomachs to save their backs and were encouraged to bring their dogs for company and warmth. Nowadays, knife sharpening is much more accessible to the average person, with most kitchens stocking the common blade honing rod.

The Knife Grinder was created with acrylic paint. The long-limbed character was cut from paper and collaged with kraft paper. The Jobs of Yesteryear are thought-provoking conversation pieces that will bring an air of history and whimsy to any room.