Hack Saw c. 1938

Paul Poffinbarger made this hack saw drawing with what looks like watercolor on paper. I love the careful way he's built up the color; it's all these tiny marks coming together to make a picture. It’s a patient process, much like the act of sawing itself, I suppose. The texture is pretty amazing, right? He's got that rusty, crusty quality down, especially in the saw's blade. You can almost feel the grit. And the way he's handled the wooden handle, with those smooth, rounded forms and subtle gradations of color? Beautiful. I find myself staring at the little screw, too, marveling at how he’s turned something so ordinary into something so visually compelling. Looking at this, I’m reminded of some of the early American folk art tradition, that clear-eyed, honest way of looking. It's a reminder that art doesn't always need to shout; sometimes, it whispers, inviting you to lean in and really see.