the work of hands

Being in an artist's studio is like magic for me. It makes me feel as though I should tip-toe and hold my breath for fear of disrupting that invisible and elusive creative force we coax and crave. You can really sense its presence in spaces like this – in the form of splattered paint on the floor, muddy buckets of water, and globby tubes of paint. You can see it in rough sketches and handwritten words found on scraps of paper scattered across a desk or taped haphazardly to the wall. When I visited briefly with Tom Swanston in his studio that day, I left with a handful of odd images like this. Not one of them contained a single finished work by Tom, nor his artist wife Gail Foster and I must tell you that the paintings were fabulous. But I keep coming back to this one... and the tenderness of his hands clasping his wife's canvas.

Let's see the work of hands today. Or share a sacred space.

Comments

[GayleV]

Just my son, but I love how little hands work--such concentration and deliberateness.
http://momandcamera.blogspot.com/2009/03/little-hands-and-finger-foods.html

[Toni | Daily Vignette]

This lets me do what I love to do:
http://dailyvignette.com/2008/05/30/favorite-things-part-three/

Which is create things like this:
http://dailyvignette.com/2008/06/07/sold/

And to organize a world-wide collabortive effort and donation to a children's hospital - this was pretty cool:
http://dailyvignette.com/2008/06/07/glass-quilt-donation/

[Marcie]

Hands-at-work:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=726

[kosenrufu mama]

here my son hands at work...
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2009/03/giocare-fare.html

[Alicia]

My mom's hands in the 2nd and 3rd pictures.

http://aliandsethinthecity.blogspot.com/2009/02/lilies-rosemary-bonsai.html

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

I can't wait for the day that I have my very own studio!

Great photo.

-WW
http://www.wayfaringwanderer.com

[Sue Henry]

I, too, am fascinated with "hands." A few of my favorites:

http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/a-quiet-moment/

http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/guess-who-is-visiting/

http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/the-puzzle/

[debi]

I am a photo retoucher in real life. Last year's hurricanes brought refugees to my town, refugees staying nearby in downtown churches. They would walk by our business daily, and a retouched photo in the front room seemed to symbolize hope for some of them:
http://emmatree.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-things-begin-things-that-make.html

[shelli]

I love your photo. I call it my office, but it's really the bonus room/play room/office space/storage space (and soon to be new nursery). ha!

http://www.mamaofletters.com/Site/The_Focal_Point/Entries/2008/11/16_Homage_To_My_Office_Window.html

[ELK]

so interesting that I would post this on my blog as you honor the artist hands today here. I have so many happy thoughts tied up in these unlikely pieces of art:

http://www.redorgray.com/2009/03/frame-by-redorgray-on-flickr.html

thank you for the sharing that happens here at Shutter Sisters
ELK

[sharon]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36537128@N08/3379248712/

My hands. Actually looking somewhat graceful despite the short fingers and scars. ;)

[~ kristina ~]

woman's work, created with my hands:
http://meadowlarkdays.blogspot.com/2009/03/domestic-scenes.html

[cloudscome]

Here's a blog post from last summer about a quilt I made. I was learning how to machine quilt on a new machine and working with fabric that I didn't like the colors of until I put them all together. Spending the day quilting puts me on in a different place where the world is both peaceful and exciting. Thanks for this inspiring post.

http://sandycovetrail.blogspot.com/2008/08/orange-chinese-coins-quilt.html

[KL]

A boys work is never done...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12418609@N00/3379360560/

[liz]

I love photographs of hands. Here is a photo of my husband's hands planting seeds yesterday
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewhitaker/3378427551/

And a photo of my son's hands as he is collecting dandelions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewhitaker/3366414495/

[Susan D]

A never-ending fascinating subject! Here's a couple of my favorites:

http://saurora.smugmug.com/gallery/4203194_hzZG6#245623282_GT9LG-A-LB

http://saurora.smugmug.com/gallery/4203194_hzZG6#246160017_poNYY-L-LB

[kara - all things ordinary]

i know what you mean. my boyfriend is an artist and theres something special about poking around his desk filled of jars and sponges and ripped paper.

[Andie]

I adore the picture posted today by Stephanie. Beautiful!
Here is my contribution: http://www.andieedwards.com/blog/?p=378

[Lecia]

Beautiful post and image!

My Grandmother's hands: http://www.leciawphinney.com/2009/02/seeing-beauty.html

A sacred space: http://www.leciawphinney.com/search/label/Martin%20Luther%20King%20Jr.

[Lisa Clarke]

This is my first time here. I make buttons, and this is the work of my hands:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/polkadotcreations/3380082868/

[Heather]

Love your words to explain this moment you captured---definitely can sense the reverence.

Today, my little guy and his busy little hands...

http://heatherk.typepad.com/photography/2009/03/tiny-hands.html

[Julie Alvarez]

Here's my set, it shows the way I see our hands, active hands:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/sets/72157614850941160/

[stephanie beaty]

thank you for posting such a thoughtful article. hands are magical to me too -- especially when they contrast. one of my favorite images of hands can be found on the opening page of my web site (http://www.lifeographer.com) -- my grandmother's weathered hands cradling her wewborn great-grandson.

it was inspired by a similar shot I captured of my great grandmother holding her great, great grandson: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebeatys/372373473/

and there's nothing more symbolic than hands showcasing new-life-to-be -- or just born:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebeatys/2265991292/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebeatys/431194160/

[Mrs. E]

Hands are meant for creating and loving. Grandma's Hands

http://erickfam.blogspot.com/2009/03/work-of-hands.html

[Puna]

My mother had her nails done in fun but I find myself coming back to look at the photos of her hands again and again. I'm not sure why...

http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/happy-international-st-pattys-day/

[Jen]

This is one of my favorite hand images from last year - Baseball Don - a community organizer.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/enniferj8/2792979072/in/set-72157603440199044/

[Brenda Kula]

Yes, those hands clasped say everything. And more.
Brenda

[melody is slurping life]

Your image draws me into the studio and the his art, his love for her. Perfection.

Here's one of my favorite hands moments captured:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melsphotophun/2885861412/

[gypsyalex]

Love this image, Stephanie. The tenderness in the hands and all the surrounding colors are perfect! Great inspiration.

[Cristi]

I love all of these pictures! Such stories in a person's hand.

One of my old favorites from when I was travelling through Turkey:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cristic/927889126/

More than one form of art:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cristic/2531470260/

And one that sums up my experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cristic/2961822844/

[bee & jack]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/beeandjack/3382564208/

It is amazing - such little space between these people rushing on and off, but no connections being made.

[Cindi Barker]

This is a subject that is close to my heart. I have been attempting to photograph a series with my mother's hands doing all the work and caring that is so much a part of her and her life. This is one of my favorites so far:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjb_phodographer/3381951837/

[Oliag]

I have been taking a local community adult ed photography class and our latest assignment was "Hands"...
http://picturingtheyear.blogspot.com/2009/03/hands-down.html

[benzismama]

When I'm not taking pictures....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benzismama/3382601747/in/photostream/

[Steph Wiese]

http://stephwiese.squarespace.com/blog/2009/3/24/hands.html

Hands are such a powerful tool!