The Bequest
“The Bequest” is the title of a painting…it is an oil painting of a simple lock…the painting has been handed down from generation to generation of the same family…no one knows its origin, for those who knew the story are long dead….now they only know that the painting must never be sold…must never go out of the family…it is handed down to each eldest son and must hang in a prominent place in the main room of the house…the family is very wealthy and own many works of art, and visitors are puzzled to see this strange painting by an unknown artist, covered with the crazing of age, hanging among the Monets and Pollocks…much too embarrased to ask, their questions go unanswered, and many stories have been concocted and whispered over the years...Janis
On the back of the painting, someone had scribbled the following poem
You left me, sweet, two legacies
A legacy of love
A Heavenly Father would content,
Had He the offer of
You left me boundaries of pain
Capacious as the sea,
Between eternity and time,
Your consciousness and me. E Dickinson…
Acrylic and watercolour on Arches Not Paper
The Bequest belongs to the following groups:
Complex Simplicity of Art, ! 100% !, Acrylic Painting, Art Inspired by Dreams, AW Welcome Center, Contemporary Professional Painters and Sculptors, EF Welcome Center, First Things, Freedom to Shine, in-between, JPG Cast-Offs, Layered with Texture, Light In The Darkness, Live, Love, Dream: May you have a Blessed Christmas Season , Mixed Media, Outsiders, Prize Challenges!!, Realist Traditional Art, Safe Haven, THE FRINGE, The Patchwork , The Scavenger Hunt, THE SISTERHOOD, The true beauty, Unconventional Artistry - 3 per day, Vibrant and Vivid Color and Who are YOU to Judge? Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
Janis Zroback
webbie
awsome sis ..love the poem and the mistry and the beauty of the abstract…hugggggz
Janis Zroback replied
I’m glad you like it Thelma…thank you so much…
Linda Callaghan
very thought provoking painting Janis and wonderfully painted…I love the crackle effect especially..the words go so very well with it and makes this lock not sooo simple after all and it becomes a very important symbol in the family line.
Janis Zroback replied
I am thinking seriously that I should write more of the story…I just made up this bit for the painting, and now I’m curious to know more…:)))
Thank you so much Linda…I’m glad you like it…
Lora Garcelon
I love the colors and textures in this – I am always amazed how such a simple object can turn into such beautiful art!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you Lora…the history of realism in art stresses the portrayal of everyday objecs as opposed to the glitzy stuff…I love to paint the more mundane things and raise them up so we can appreciate their inherent beauty…I’m so pleased you like it…
Alison Pearce
Beautiful!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Alison… :))
Erika .
WOW Janis, the colors and textures are so awesome! Instant favorite
Janis Zroback replied
I’m so glad you like it Erika…thanks so much…made up story, but lots of fun…
kjgordon
wonderful use of colors…..what will you think of next…....we all look forward to it….........
Janis Zroback replied
I have so many ideas, that I don’t know if I have enough time left to do them all…thanks so much Kj.. :))
JennyDean
lovely colours Janis. Beautiful work.
Janis Zroback replied
How nice to see you Jenny…thanks so much… :)))
blamo
Supurb mixture of colour and texture
Janis Zroback replied
I’m happy you think so Tone…thank you so much… :)))
Lynda Robinson
Janis – you manage to find artwork in the most unusual places!
Janis Zroback replied
I have a fertile brain that’s buzzing with ideas all the time…most of my art comes out of my head…this story was made up as I was doing the painting…now I want to know how it ends, so I have to write the rest of it… :)))
Thanks so much Lynda…
Janis Zroback
In the early part of the century, one son dared to place the painting in the attic…he was killed in a riding accident shortly afterwards..the painting was replaced in the living room, where it has stayed ever since.
Anna D'Accione
Very interesting and intrigueing
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Anna…I’m glad you find it so… :)))
Carla Jensen
Outstanding ….Janis!! love those bright colors and crackel effect you did as well wtg!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Carla…old oil paintings crack a lot, so I added the effects to show authenticity :)))
bev langby
oh my just wonderful, it would make a good movie, im sure not only one would have tried to hide it away lol so waiting for more …........
Janis Zroback replied
I guess I will have to continue the story…I’ve done that a few times here….see my writing pages..thank you so much Bev… :)))
DanaMS
Fantastic painting, great story and so touching poem… Beautiful work Janis! :) xoxox
Janis Zroback replied
I knew you would love the poem…I thought of you as I so often do…thank you so much Dana….
Janis Zroback replied
I guess I have to finish writing the story… :)))
Karin Taylor
i love the mystery surrounding the lock now…..i would love to know the whole history….
send in the bloodhounds! lol….fabulous colour, i love this beautiful purple, red and blue, with the crackles…....it’s wonderful work Janis! ;)
Janis Zroback replied
I want to know the whole story too…so I have to write more..I’m so glad you like it….thank you so much Karin.. :)))
Janis Zroback
Soon after the death of Mark, the eldest son of Matthew, the picture was replaced in it’s spot over the fireplace…it seemed to shine in the glow of the fire at night…the family tried to deny it had anything to do with Marks death, but his old nurse who was still alive shook her head with tightly folded lips…she had told Mark, that nothing good would come of moving that picture…but he would have it so…”Stuff and superstitious nonsense” he scoffed…now look what happened….it wasn’t the horse…he’d ridden that horse for two years…it was as docile as a lamb…they had no right to shoot it…Master Mark should have listened to her…he always did before now.
GEORGE SANDERSON
Stunning piece Janis and you weave a wonderful tale around it !!!
Janis Zroback replied
I am making it up with every comment…lol…thanks so much George…
BLYTHART
Story, poetry and painting all go together so well. Congrats!
Janis Zroback replied
I’m glad you are enjoying it Dave…thanks so much… :))
Hena Tayeb
wow.. fabulous..great work and great story.
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Hena..so nice to see you :))
Makeba Kedem-D...
Your use of color and texture here is fantastic! peace..
Janis Zroback replied
Welcome Makeba…thank you so much…
Waleska Luker
You have being Featured in the...
First Things Group
Janis Zroback replied
What wonderful news!!!...thank you so much…
Earthmonster
DARREL NEAVES
NIIIICE …P
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much…. :)))
jimofozz
i like this very much
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Jim..:))
Donna Adamski
Lovely work :)
4/28/09
Janis Zroback replied
How wonderful…thank you so much Donna… I really appreciate it…
F.A. Moore
Inside Solo, vol 15! <<Click to go!
Congratulations! on your feature in the magazine.
Inside Solo is the Art News and Resource magazine from Solo Exhibition.
The magazine is now a formal publication, in PDF format, downloadable from its RB page. Please take the link back to comment at the end of the issue. A reprint of just your feature article is available from a link on the inside back cover of the magazine, for your portfolio.
Janis Zroback replied
I am so pleased about the feature, and really honoured to be chosen…
Magdalena Mak...
i like it
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much…very nice of you…