Pa. German Rolling Pin c. 1941

Frank Budash painted this Pennsylvania German rolling pin, sometime between 1855 and 1995, with what looks like watercolor. I love how Budash renders this everyday object with a gentle, almost reverent touch. I can picture him carefully mixing the brown washes, patiently building up the tones to capture the light on the wood. It’s like he's saying, "Hey, even a humble rolling pin can be beautiful." You know? I mean, look at the way he's detailed the wood grain, trying to get every little nook and cranny of its surface. It reminds me of those Shaker drawings, or maybe even some of the meticulous still lifes from art history. And it makes you think about how we see, what we value, and the quiet beauty that can be found in the ordinary. I feel like Budash invites us to look closer and appreciate the simple things in life, one brushstroke at a time.