Incidental Art

One of my prized possessions is an old paint rag that belonged to my grandfather Robert Hockenbrough “Hock”. He used it to clean his palette knives (he always painted with palette knives since cleaning brushes was not his bag) and it is framed and holds a place of honor on my mantle.  In a similar way, I have one of my grandmother’s recipe cards, in her handwriting stained with batter, framed in a place of honor in my kitchen.  While they aren’t the banana bread or the actual painting, they are objects that honor the art of the process.  Tools made beautiful over time that represent the love and effort that went into final product.  They are in a way more intimate and more beautiful because they weren’t necessarily meant to be seen but offer a glimpse into the creative process.  Obviously the Art Institute understands because they included one of Van Gogh’s palettes in their Bedroom exhibit, and it also is beautiful incidental art.

 

Van Gogh’s paint palette

 

My Grandfather’s paint rag

 

Grandma B’s banana bread recipe