Spokeshave 1938

Herman O. Stroh made this watercolour of a spokeshave, sometime before 1995. The colour palette is warm, the browns and tans, like the wood, feel close and inviting, while the redder strip adds a jolt of energy. You can almost feel the texture of the wood through the painting. Stroh's attention to the surface is incredible, you can see the grain and the subtle variations in tone. It’s like he's trying to capture not just the look but the feel of the object. Look at the rounded end, the way the light catches it. The shape is so tactile, so inviting to hold. The metal looks solid and cold in contrast, adding to the image's balance. This piece reminds me of other artists, maybe someone like Charles Sheeler, who found beauty in the everyday objects around them, or even Wayne Thiebaud, who is known for his rich, painterly surfaces. Art is an ongoing conversation, and this painting is a quiet, thoughtful contribution.