72x36 inches
acrylic, watercolor paper, kraft paper, oil pastel on stained maple panel
$6400

The Jobs of Yesteryear series combines history and surrealism to tell the stories of obsolete jobs. A contemporary glimpse into the past, these mixed-media paintings serve as a reminder of a time and stories long forgotten.

This particular Job of Yesteryear mixed media painting features a road roller. Civilizations throughout human history have developed ways to improve the trails and roads they most often traveled. The Romans built incredibly durable stone roads that are still in use today, opening up trade, cultural exchange, and of course, the ease of mobilizing their military. Part of road construction from ancient civilizations to modern times involves flattening out the land to a grade suitable for wheels. This was often done with large stone rollers pulled either by workers, slaves, or beasts of burden. This was eventually replaced by early steam rollers, which accomplished this task by harnessing the power of steam under pressure.

The Road Rollers was created with acrylic paint and oil pastels. The long-limbed character was cut from paper and collaged with kraft paper. The Jobs of Yesteryear are thought-provoking conversation pieces that will bring an air of history and whimsy to any room.