Editor’s Note: For those of you who have purchased “Hands Employed Aright,” you’ll note that we also used Jessica Roux’s illustration as endsheets. It was more expensive than typical endsheets, but worth it in every way. And now you can purchase a poster of this gorgeously detailed work of art.
— Kara Gebhart Uhl
When I got home from work yesterday, the long-anticipated shipment of the Jonathan Fisher workshop posters was sitting on my front porch! This poster features the incredible illustration that was commissioned for my new book, “Hands Employed Aright: The Furniture Making of Jonathan Fisher (1768-1847).” The image is a recreation of a typical Jonathan Fisher workshop scene, in which the parson is hard at work making furniture for his and his community’s homes. Everything from the barn he worked in, the tools hanging on the walls, the partially assembled desk in the foreground, to the sheep inside and pigs outside are all based on surviving artifacts or documentation. Little in this illustration is conjecture.
When I pitched this idea to Chris during the book editing process, he said “yes” without reservation. We agreed that this rare opportunity to see the pieces of this story come together seemed too good to pass up.
Because I’ve long admired the folk whimsy of artist Jessica Roux, having her do the artwork was a no-brainer. And we couldn’t be more pleased with how it came out. It is rich in detail, color and texture, and is something we knew folks would want to hang on their wall.
This 18″ x 22″ poster was printed in the U.S. on 100-lb. matte-coated paper. Jessica’s super high-res work means this poster was printed with crisp detail. Mike and I are now beginning to ship these posters out into the world. The poster is $15 and can be ordered here. (Yes, we take international orders.) We’re only doing one run, so if you want one now’s the time to order.
I took a chance on the Anarchist’s Tool Chest plan poster and ended up really liking it. Actually picked up a returned second one for a song at the storefront because someone didn’t know what the gutter around pictures/posters is for. So, I ordered one of these.
Now I demand you publish measured drawings for all the items depicted in the scene. 🙂 Kidding, of course. Actually, now that I think about it, nearly everything in there has an example published by Chris: high bench, low bench, squares, chisel rack, six board chest (with beckets!), chest of drawers, and lady’s desk. I don’t know if Chris ever did a spring pole lathe, but enough have shown up around here.
Sorry, Megan, that ‘lady’s desk’ is not for you–not because I’m insulting your genteelness, but because the surface is far too small for you to clutter up with stacks of stuff measured by yard sticks. 😉
Hey Joshua, any idea when I can expect the poster?
Ron
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Ron,
I’m not sure they are checking these comments. You might want to inquire through the M&T website