Conestoga Tool Box c. 1939

Samuel W. Ford made this painting of a Conestoga Tool Box, and he used a kind of humble palette of browns, umbers, and tans. You can almost feel the grain of the wood, right? I'm thinking about the time that it took for Ford to create it. Can you imagine him, patiently building the image in layers, adding depth, and letting the object slowly come into being? The hinges and clasps are so lovingly rendered. I wonder what they mean to him and what secrets the box holds. Painting is like a conversation across time, and I think about how Ford's vision resonates with other artists who find beauty in the everyday. It's about embracing the imperfections and celebrating the unexpected discoveries that happen along the way.