Jaye Schlesinger

Monument
pastel on sanded paper
15 x 12 in.

Matter of Weight
pastel on sanded paper
13 x 12 in.

Poise
pastel on sanded paper
15 x 12 in.

For the past 5 years I’ve been working on a series of pastel paintings of tools. The original inspiration for this work came from a previous career as a cabinetmaker. Being surrounded by a wide variety of tools, I began to observe them as beautiful forms. The surface markings became a reflection of the human connection with the physical work, something I’ve contemplated for a long time. The rich patina of rough and worn edges have personal stories, known and unknown.
In the piece entitled “Monument” the glove becomes the ultimate symbol of physical labor and a testament to my own very personal respect for hard work

© Jaye Schlesinger