12x14
I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, Eyes..
I wonder if it weighs like Mine
Or has an Easier size.
I wonder if They bore it long
Or did it just begin
I could not tell the Date of Mine
It feels so old a pain
I wonder if it hurts to live
And if They have to try
And whether..could They choose between
It would not be..to die
I note that Some, gone patient long,
At length, renew their smile..
An imitation of a Light
That has so little Oil
I wonder if when Years have piled
Some Thousands on the Harm
That hurt them early..such a lapse
Could give them any Balm
Or would they go on aching still
Through Centuries of Nerve
Enlightened to a larger Pain
In Contrast with the Love
The Grieved are many…I am told.
There is the various Cause..
Death is but one..and comes but once
And only nails the eyes
There’s Grief of Want..and grief of Cold..
A sort they call “Despair”
There’s Banishment from native Eyes
In Sight of Native Air
And though I may not guess the kind.
Correctly..yet to me
A piercing Comfort it affords
In passing Calvary.
To note the fashions…of the Cross,
And how they’re mostly worn…
Still fascinated to presume
That Some, are like My Own.Emily Dickinson
12×14 is a bit of an anomaly for me, and is the beginning of a new journey….painted in watercolour on Arches Rough Paper it is also part of the Abstract Collection and the Tools Series…...the title refers to numbers and shapes and lengths, a carpenter, tools, math, metaphor, humanity, stories…..
There are so many layers to the painting…as part of the tool series, it is a picture of nails, but once you get past that, it turns into something else…the pain of piercing grief, the ties to Christianity, death and eyes nailed shut, the number of triangles which seem to go on to infinity, three points, the measurement of time, the measurement of the nails themselves…the structure that they make which is somewhat like a house…the sharp points etc..etc..and the background which though it seems like a landscape, is also reminiscent of the nails… the poem says so much too…. I hope it helps to get a deeper understanding of the painting
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Janis Zroback
Tama Blough
Somehow gigantic nails and Emily go well together!
Janis Zroback replied
That’s what I thought…she has the pulse of the earth under her fingertips, and very often gets it right…thanks so much Tama….
Janis Zroback replied
I found the line “death comes but once and only nails the eyes” very significant…it gave me something to think about…
Scott Bricker
wow, really fine, Janus….superb.
Janis Zroback replied
I’m so pleased you like it Scott…there are many layers to the interpretation of this piece and I’m thrilled that you stopped by to give me your feed back…
danita clark
Words and art combine … a super peice!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Danita…there’s a lot to think about here, and I’m so pleased that you like it…
Carol Berliner
woooooooooow Janis awesome work! Iooooooove it instant fav!
Janis Zroback replied
How nice to see you Carol…I’m so glad you like the new work….
artist4peace
lovely…....
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much…
Leslie Gustafson
This is so interesting and well done!!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Leslie…
Leslie Gustafson
Oh wow, I have never read that poem – moving!, and with you art – inspiring!!
Janis Zroback replied
They are tied together….I’m glad you read it…thank you so much…
Jim Phillips
What an amazingly creative work Janis. I too am an ED fan. Enjoyed both painting and the poetry.
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you Jim…I am on a different journey now, so the work will reflect that…lots of strong shapes tied in with significance to humanity…not everything, but most will be….interestingly enough the work was done first, painted from a vision I had, then the right verse appeared…thank you so much Jim…
Janis Zroback
The Grieved are many…I am told.
There is the various Cause..
Death is but one..and comes but once
And only nails the eyes
Linda Callaghan
love the textures, shapes and layers of all the nails lying on top of one another which adds to the depth Janis…. another fascinating painting. When connecting it to the writing it made me think of different people living with grief and how they wear or show it…. and that some wear their grief like the writer “that some are like my own”.....and when the eyes are nailed shut only then will their grief cease…very indepth made me think!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much for your insightful comment Linda…I have added more to the commentary above which reflects some of the things you mention…there is a lot to think about as you view the painting and I hope you take a second look based on what I have written….
Anna D'Accione
Food for thought, both thru the painting and the written verse.
Janis Zroback replied
I have added more to the commentary above…I am so pleased that you like it…thank you so much Anna…
Uta Mooney
As you know I love everyday objects and these nails are fabulous
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Uta…I love painting everyday things too..it’s what we’re all about….
Sarah Bentvelzen
Wow!
Love,
Sarah
Janis Zroback replied
How nice Sarah…thank you so much… :))
Carla Jensen
outstanding painting …Janis!! who would have thought you could make nails look so beautiful!! and this is just what you have done here!!!! Stunning work as always my friend!!
Janis Zroback replied
How lovely Carla!! thank you so much… I really appreciate it…
mingtees
it’s lovely, Janis! btw, i found another guy who paints doorknobs and tools, but photorealist style.
Janis Zroback replied
Brilliant Amy…thanks so much…I also found an artist right here who does tools in pen and watercolour…I am not alone in my madness…lol… I’m so glad you like this one…see bmail…
Virginia Maguire
so beautiful as is everything you do.
Janis Zroback replied
How nice of you to say so…thank you so much Virginia….
Hal Smith
lovely wc, as always the colors are perfect
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Hal…that’s very nice of you… :))
Janis Zroback
And though I may not guess the kind.
Correctly..yet to me
A piercing Comfort it affords
In passing Calvary.
Lucindawind
FABULOUS Janis !
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Lucinda.. :))
kjgordon
of all your paintings Janis …...this one you really nailed!!!!!!!!!!!
Janis Zroback replied
Ha…thank you so much KJ…. :))
GEORGE SANDERSON
A fascinating piece Janis and a well chosen verse !!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much George…lots to think about… :))
Linda Callaghan
yes Janis thanks this painting says so much more than just a painting of nails…
Janis Zroback replied
I don’t like to use paintings to preach, but I do like them to say more than what you see at first glance…
TomBaumker
Nice work my friend Hugs Tom
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Tom… :))
Alison Pearce
They go together so well!! I love the painting and the way you’ve used it interpretatively!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Alison…I am so pleased that you like it…
Spraven
Emily and your work, goes to togther very well Janis!!
Great work!!
Janis Zroback replied
Yes. I have found so over the years and have been inspred by her writings many times…thank you so much…
Enivea
Congratulations on your feature, well deserved for this expressive piece….can relate well to it.
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Enivea…I am glad it resonates with you… :))
Joanne Bradley
This has meaning on so many levels Janis! A wonderful abstract! Love the colors and the arrangement of the nails!
Janis Zroback replied
It’s nice to see you Joanne…thank you so much…I’m happy you like the work… :))
Janis Zroback
Dragan Petrovic
Excellent work
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Dragan… :))
Karin Taylor
this just blows me away…..you never cease to amaze me…
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Karin…I’m so pleased you like it…
webbie
So Awsome Sis ..tru the light and shadows and tones /// it just beautiful huggggggggz
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Thelma…I’m glad you like it…
DesignsByDeb
It makes me think of my grandfather. He was a carpenter.
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Deb..I’m glad it has special meaning for you…... :))
wigs
Fabulous work both image and writing….lovely
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Wigs.. :))
jim marshal
Confronting, gutsy image. Excellent work Janis.
Janis Zroback replied
Welcome Jim…thank you so much… :))
Jolie
I simply love this anomaly janis & look forward to others in the series
Beautifully presented!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Jolie…there are a few others in the tools collection already, but not with the mystical implications of this one…I’m so pleased that you like it…
Janis Zroback
JuliaWright
Great work
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Julia..:))
Elizabeth Bravo
I had seen this when you first put it up and thought I had commented. I guess not. This is so nice. I love the subject and colors. You really did such a nice job on this.
Janis Zroback replied
I’m happy you like it…thank you so much… :))
Pam Hunt-Bromf...
Janis you make the simple things in life so very interesting. Natural beauty and talent.
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much for taking a tour through my paintings…you might also find some of the writing resonates, as I write or post other writers primarily for artists struggling through to make it successfully on their articitc journey…
Pam Hunt-Bromf...
Thanks Janis.
sadeyedartist
I’m glad you posted the poem with this. It gives the work … not greater meaning, perhaps, but insight into the meaning that was already there. I’m glad to know it.
Janis Zroback replied
How lovely of you!!..thank you so much…
Magdalena Mak...
thyats realy good :)
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much…I’m glad you like it…