12×48 inches
acrylic, watercolor paper, kraft paper on stained maple panel
$1600

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 steamboat captain. Steamboat captains were the masters of U.S. river trade beginning in the early 1800s. Work on a steamboat was governed by a strict hierarchy and the captains were at the apex, navigating treacherous waters, managing rowdy crews, and operating what were often complex vessels with grace and dignity. Railroads became the dominant mode of transportation in the 1870s, replacing steamboats as the main method of moving goods and people around the United States.

The Steamboat Captain II was created with acrylic paint. 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.