Adze c. 1941

This is LeRoy Griffith's painting of an adze, made with some kind of watercolor or gouache. The palette is muted, with browns, grays, and beiges dominating the composition. I’m wondering what it must have been like for Griffith, setting up his easel, maybe in his garden, focusing intensely on the worn textures of the adze. You know, the way the light catches the grain of the wooden handle, or how the rusty metal curves with such a sense of purpose. I like how he painted the details of the adze's form with a delicate touch, yet the overall effect is sturdy, utilitarian. The object looks like it has had a life. It reminds me of some of the still life paintings I've seen by Giorgio Morandi, or even some drawings by Jasper Johns, where everyday objects take on a kind of iconic significance. It’s amazing how artists find ways to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.