(my art + his frames)
Click images below to see close up, wall, and side photos for each piece.
Acrylic on reclaimed wood. This piece was used on one of my Grandfather’s woodworking machines.
ready to hang.
My grandfather, Donald Jesse Smith, was a very talented woodworker and patternmaker. A true creative. He also served in the Navy, and was a highly regarded Fire Chief for 14 years. He was a family man with a big heart - my mother's father. Nana and Gramps lived in a beautiful home in the country, with a woodshop at the back of the property. Gramps spent much of his time in the shop crafting everything from horse buggies, to furniture, and smaller items like picture frames. I remember his shop vividly - the smell of fresh sawdust, endless tools scattered about, humming and searing sounds of the table saw and drill press, and sawdust particles dancing about in a stream of sunlight cast through the window. Gramps worked in his shop well into his 80's, and passed last year at the age of 100.
During a recent visit to the property, I gathered up all his handmade frames that once held photos, calendar prints, and Norman Rockwell plates. I wanted to give them a new purpose, but how? Eventually the vision appeared - I would remove the prints, glass, and plates, replace them with canvas, and paint them. And so a new collection was born... a limited edition Sarah & Gramps Collaboration. This collab is a juxtaposition of two talents, generations apart. I'm really proud of this heartfelt series, and I bet Gramps is too!
My Grandfather’s spirit will live on in each painting. If you feel called to acquire one of these special pieces, know that Gramps and I are both truly grateful.
