Still Life With An Awl

Janis Zroback

Still Life With An Awl


Still Life With An Awl” is part of my new collection of paintings of everyday things…things like tools, that we take for granted until we need them…one of my favourite places to go is the hardware store…I love the scent of paint and new metal…I sniff the air as I walk in and revel at all the new things I could get to make my life easier…here is a new type of level, I say to myself…here is something for finding the studs faster, so I don’t have to go knocking and listening…here is a new type of tape that doesn’t rip the drywall to pieces after I paint…I’m going to treat myself to a Dremel tool with all the parts this weekend…what excitement!!..I can’t wait...

Watercolour on Arches Not Paper…

FEATURED IN …MATURE WOMAN…FIRST THINGS AND FEATURED MEMBER…

The Legacy


Still Life with Old Dandelion Stencil and Terracotta Pots


Still Life with Wellingtons


The Sap Bucket

Still Life With An Awl belongs to the following groups:

Complex Simplicity of Art, ! 100% !, All Around the Styles, Art Inspired by Dreams, AW Welcome Center, Contemporary Professional Painters and Sculptors, Decorative and Traditional Art, EF Welcome Center, Everyday Life, Feminine Intent (LIMIT TWO IMAGES PER DAY), Fine Arts, First Things, Freedom to Shine, Impressionist Art, in-between, JPG Cast-Offs, Just Brown, Latin-Caribbean Art, Layered with Texture, Light In The Darkness, Live, Love, Dream: May you have a Blessed Christmas Season , Mature Woman, Outsiders, Prize Challenges!!, Realist Traditional Art, Safe Haven, The Collector's Corner, The Patchwork , The Scavenger Hunt, THE SISTERHOOD, The true beauty, Tools, Tropical Art, Unconventional Artistry - 3 per day and Who are YOU to Judge? Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

Still Life With An Awl by Janis Zroback
Still Life With An Awl by Janis Zroback
  • Janis Zroback
  • John Fish

    John Fish

    beautifully painted. a wonderful concept for subject matter. sometimes those every day objects that I over look are so beautiful as art

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Thank you for the wonderful compliment John…I have decided to concentrate my efforts on the things I love most to paint…I used to do this type of Still Life many moons ago and I have now returned to it…I am thrilled that you like it..

  • izzybeth

    izzybeth

    this is really cool Janis… It is a nifty departure from your flowers and fruit… Your talent continues to amaze me…

  • Janis Zroback replied

    It’s actually what I love best to paint and have not done for a while…thank you for the lovely compliment Izzybeth… :))

  • Elaine van Dyk

    Elaine van Dyk

    Beautiful work, Janis. You render everyday objects into objects of treasure. Wonderful!

  • Janis Zroback replied

    I love painting them Elaine…strong powerful shapes, that are a bit of a challenge to paint in watercolour, but what joy athte end of a painting session!! thank you so much…I’m so glad you like it…

  • Alison Pearce

    Alison Pearce

    This is a wonderful series Janis. Beautiful work

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Thank you so much Alison..it confirms my decision to move more in this direction….it’s what I love…

  • Waleska Luker

    Waleska Luker

    You have being Featured in the…
    First Things Group

  • Janis Zroback replied

    I am amazed….this has got to be the fastest feature i ever had…thank you so much…how wonderful!!!

  • Janis Zroback

    Janis Zroback


    Just wait till I get the Dremel tool. :)))

  • Tama Blough

    Tama Blough

    Nice one!! I love tools.

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Thank you so much Tama.. :)

  • betha

    betha

    Excellent work! You have made a beautiful image out of something that would be taken foregranted!

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Thank you so much Betha…it’s so nice to see you… :)))

  • DanaMS

    DanaMS

    Beautifully painted Janis! And congratulations on the feature!

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Thank you so much Dana….I love painting them and using them too… :))) very handy around the house…

  • carlosramos

    carlosramos

    Beautiful artwork !

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Thank you so much Carlos… I’m glad you like it.. :))

  • Janis Zroback

    Janis Zroback


    I’ve been looking for antique tools in the flea market….I want an old carpenters plane with a black wood handle.

  • Carla Jensen

    Carla Jensen

    Outstanding painting …Janis !! and you know I just love the colors and texture !! I’m loving this series ! wtg

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Thank you so much Carla…you will be seeing lots more along these lines…

  • mingtees

    mingtees

    Very cool! I just posted about Jim Dine’s Tool series on Twitter the other day.

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Is he a painter? I have not seen any one who painted tools…I don’t see your posts on Twitter…I don’t check it everyday…I’m glad you like this one…I’m doing a series on everyday things…
    I want to post a link to you on Twitter as well…there are quite a few people follwing me now….could you give me the one you prefer me to post?...

  • Janis Zroback replied

    O.K. I just found him…a new exhibit at the Pace gallery…large paintings with the tools attached…now I look at the work, I remember seeing the hearts, but I had no recollection of his name…if you have another link to more of his work, I would love to have it…thanks again…

  • mingtees

    mingtees

    Actually i was just going to post the link at Pace Editions
    – painting, drawing and printmaking – The Tools and Dreams series is pretty well known, you know the hearts and you probably know the bathrobe self portraits too.

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Thank you so much Amy…I will save it to look at when my son is asleep…now what about giving me the address you want me to link on my page on Twitter…

  • Janis Zroback replied

    I just looked at the first page….coincidently, I am in the middle of doing a black painting of tools..how weird is that…I have a psychic connection to him…ha…I wish…

  • Ted Byrne

    Ted Byrne

    One question Janis… Why are you to terrified to use color?

    Just kidding… Whoa, you are fearless and the palettes you create SIzZzZzZle! The metal here is almost molten, you can almost hear that high-whine of forged metal turning white hot. And the composition is so perfectly unexpected.

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Gosh…your first question almost made me fall off the chair…I went whaaat??? you definitely have the wrong person!!! then I read on and realized you were joking….Ha…don’t scare me like that….
    Welcome Ted…I am doing a series on every day things as you can see, so there are lots more to come…I’m so glad you like the painting…thank you so much for the wonderful compliment…

  • Karin  Taylor

    Karin Taylorcommunity helper

    your shadows amaze…
    i love everything about this,
    it seems perfectly balanced
    i love it!

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Yes, I am now posting work that reflects my main interests, along with the earlier series of traditional styles…before now these would have been shown in the studio only…I’m so pleased that you like it…thanks so much Karin…

  • Janis Zroback
  • kjgordon

    kjgordon

    Awl of your work is fantastic….....You seem to have nailed these tools…........

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Very cute play on words…I’m buying a whizz of a new tool this weekend…wait till you see what I do with it..I use all the things I paint…that’s why I paint them…thanks so much…

  • Linda Callaghan

    Linda Callaghan

    fabulous painting of tools Janis you definitely have a talent for making them shine and look alive..wonderful painting.

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Thank you so much Linda…I’m glad you think so.. :))

  • Solomon Walker

    Solomon Walker

    great watercolour painting, really rich in texture and superb layering!

  • Marjorie Wallace
  • Janis Zroback replied

    Wonderful news Marjorie…thank you so much…

  • Marjorie Wallace

    Marjorie Wallace

    You are so welcome Janis. I loved the composition and the stunning color combination along with the layering. Awesome work!

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Thanks again Marjorie

  • Susan Duffey

    Susan Duffey

    Congratulations – you have captured the look of metal so well

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Thank you so much Susan…very nice of you

  • F.A. Moore

    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

    Wonderful news…thank you so much Frannie…

  • LouJay

    LouJay

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! THIS WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED IN THE TOOLS GROUP
    16th November 2009

  • Janis Zroback replied

    Wonderful news…thank you so much…

  • Mui-Ling Teh

    Mui-Ling Teh

    The colours and textures are great. Love the rustic quality!

  • Janis Zroback replied

    I’m really glad you like it Mui-Ling…thanks so much…

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