Clamp Pincushion 1940

Nicholas Amantea made this ‘Clamp Pincushion’ and the first thing that strikes me is how humble yet precise it is. Imagine Amantea, carefully layering the watercolor, building up the textures of the wood and the fabric. He painstakingly renders the wood grain of the clamp in warm browns, those small details which really draw you in. The pincushion itself is softer, gentler, a field of mossy greens and yellows. You sense Amantea’s deep appreciation for everyday objects and the quiet dignity he brings to his work. The green ribbon around the pincushion feels like a small celebration, a pop of color that lifts the entire composition. Think about the history of still life painting, and how artists use humble objects to reflect on life, death, and beauty. Amantea does that here. Isn’t it nice how someone can see the extraordinary in the ordinary?