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Artist Celebrates Late Grandfather By Drawing Each Of The 100,000+ Items He Left In His Toolshed
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Artist Celebrates Late Grandfather By Drawing Each Of The 100,000+ Items He Left In His Toolshed

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Talented artist Lee John Phillips has undertaken a project of epic proportions to celebrate the memory of his late grandfather. Phillips estimates that it will take him about 4-5 years to draw all 100,000+ items left behind in the shed by his grandfather, who passed away roughly 20 years ago. Everything from large tools to jars full of nails, nuts and bolts will be covered!

Phillips has been numbering each object in his meticulous project, and has drawn nearly 4,000 at this point. He has spent so much time drawing recently that it has taken a toll on him; “I already have to have physio for the toll it’s taking on my body. About 5% done so far!” he writes on his Instagram.

Be sure to follow his Instagram to keep up with his extraordinarily devoted project! Despite the massive undertaking, he manages to slip in the occasional unrelated drawing as well, and they’re all wonderful works of art.

More info: leejohnphillips.com | Instagram | Twitter (h/t: mymodernmet, twistedsifter)

“My grandfather past away… and my grandmother treats [the shed] as a mausoleum”

“The things he salvaged and collected in jars are amazing, they should be seen. That’s why I’m putting myself through this”

“Neither she or the shed will be around forever. I’d like to preserve it for my family”

“Some days I’ve done 15hrs, others, I’ve snatched 10 minutes. But it is every spare second I have”

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“So, so bored! Sometimes I get tested. I know I’m being tested but it doesn’t make it any easier”

“Then I finish a jam jar and it feels great. I see them lined up, tagged, numbered and ready to go home. It makes it easier to push on”

“I already have to have physio for the toll it’s taking on my body”

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Phillips will draw every nail, nut and bolt in the shed!

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bettyschierloh avatar
BettyMorganSinger
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the family should make copies of the drawings and use the copies as wallpaper for a family room in memory of Grandfather and in honor of the artist. These are wonderful! God bless you for honoring your Grandfather this way. You show much love.

lauirene19 avatar
IreneLau
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I 100% agree! Or they can laminated and/or frame them then hang it up in memory of Grandfather

Load More Replies...
arthur_belin69 avatar
ArthurBelin
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is really a masterpiece ... A meaning, a style (that I love), a passion, and a goal. What a great guy u are !

neilives avatar
NeilIves
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this idea. I've recently thrown away a lot of stuff like this that I collected all my life thinking; this might come in useful one day; but you suddenly realise that life is shorter than you think. I was able to look at a widgit in my box of bits and remember when I obtained it maybe forty years ago!

markusmuellner avatar
Markus
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cool idea but.. man.. you probably need medication (after the project is finished)

odysseia_2006 avatar
YılmazEsen
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i love this work, i wish i had to opportunity to show him one of my drawings.

gayrobinson avatar
gay robinson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please submit to next years Royal Academy summer exhibition the hanging committee could not refuse Also the public will be amazed at your dedication and skill

marilyn_3 avatar
Marilyn Hesslewood
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! This is amazing! So understand why you feel like this. I still have the tools my father had when he was alive and I'm 68 now.

ranebowriter avatar
Rebekah Gillette
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Make and publish a book with all these drawings- I really like them

snarenkunst avatar
Sef Coppers
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Man this is ace. The wallpaper idea is great. I would put it up my wall for sure. Or would buy a book when published.

ferngotell avatar
Fern Gotell
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This may seem nuts but I want this printed as fabric! It would be so fun to work with!

art_15 avatar
Sharon Westbrook
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would make beautiful pillow cushions, comforters if used for fabric design.

maitramb avatar
Mymy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What an amazing way to remember him! Beautiful drawings and amazing patience! Your grandfather would definitely benamazed/proud of you. Thank you for sharing this with us!

temp0000 avatar
AnoNymous
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can be the guy's way of mourning or OCD or just a way to kill time or a desire to have something to boast about or anything - no commenter here knows the artist's mind so better stop making baseless assumptions. We humans tend to admire gargantuic tasks successfully completed or even tried and failed, whatever they may be, even if they don't have apparent use. As for this artwork, I see no fundamental difference between it and a two hundred feet wide 1:1 scale panoramic oil painting of some battle scene executed with meticulous attention to every detail of every piece of armament and garment and every facial expression that has its own building in which it is exposed for paying visitors. I wish the same - building and paying visitors - happens to this work. It's style is admirable, reminds me of old service manuals with hand-made drawings instead of oversimplified computer models that are in manuals today - if at all.

rosemaryturpin avatar
RosemaryTurpin
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it`s an interesting and worthy project - but I really CAN`T see the point of drawing every nail and screw. One of each type would be plenty for me. He could catalogue the quantities of each, but no need to draw them ALL!

facebook_21 avatar
GregFyans
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you think his grandpa knew and was just like "I'm keeping ALL of this s**t?"

photoshop_expert avatar
GaryBurley
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wallpaper, i couldn't think of a more interesting way to paper a wall

shubham_raut_sr9 avatar
ShubhamRaut
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have tremendous patience my friend. Amazing work. Thanks for sharing with this world.

richard_petch_94 avatar
RichardPetch
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very well done, such patience, my shed is like that but I cannot see my son doing this when I peg out, and my only Grandson died when he was thirteen of cancer, And I bet Grandpa knew where every bit was in his shed.

jos.vanhout.9 avatar
JosvanHout
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great work and exceptional stamina. Monk’s work - must be mind, muscle and nerve wrecking. I would do it digitally and copypaste the spikes and screws, that’s for sure ;-).

barbara_conover_10 avatar
BarbaraConover
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I must have had a similar grandpop. This brought tears to my eyes. What a lovely tribute. Mine is long gone: I wish I had done even a tiny thing like this.

leighann.hargreaves1 avatar
Leigh-AnnHargreaves
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Moving display of dedication and respect to both his Granfather and his Grandmother.

weirdmikerocks avatar
WeirdMike
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holy actual f**k! Dude, next step is to vectorize ALL of those and have someone build something out of everything!

johnathanmphoto avatar
JohnathanM
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Major O.C.D. or "Rain-man" issues going on here? The majority of the tools and items, absolutely... Brilliant! Every single nail, pin or screw? Stupid. Catalog one, draw a line to it architecturally and label it with the correct name/specs and move on. I think it's a wonderful labor of love and art, and I would buy a book of it if it were called, "Souvenirs of Love" or something, but 20 - 50 pages of the same nail, redundant and unnecessary. Maybe that's why he's suffering from some carpal tunnel or repetitive damage already?

lauirene19 avatar
IreneLau
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a talented man and great son! Your dad is looking down and will be proud of you...

roseanne.m.james avatar
RoseanneJames
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a wonderful testament of the love he has for his Grandpa... but maybe he could just draw one of a pile of nails or screws or whatever with the amount of them that his Grandpa had, rather than drawing every single one of them? Still wonderful though <3 <3 <3

carol.mcclellan.5 avatar
CarolMcClellan
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Crazy.But understandable since my mother went through every letter my grandmother had and made binders filled with copies of the letters written between her and my grandfather. I still say photographs would have been easier.

helen.mazzer.1 avatar
HelenFrances
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine if he put all that time and talent towards something useful.

bettyschierloh avatar
BettyMorganSinger
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was something useful! It is a great honor and memorial to a beloved Grandfather; what could be more useful?

Load More Replies...
martina.vesela.503 avatar
MartinaVeselá
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a really great idea. He could've just taken a photo of every single item, but this makes it more personal. It's also a great art practice. Grandpa would be impressed if he could see it.

kingraxx avatar
ValentinRadu
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if you would have spent 10% of the time you waste now doing this ...actually hanging out more with your father .... well you would have felt better. Not judging by any means ...just saying. + i like your drawings ..very OCD soothing

martina.vesela.503 avatar
MartinaVeselá
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The grandpa's dead. This may be the guy's way of dealing with his death. You know absolutely nothing about these people, and you don't know how much time they spent together, smart guy.

Load More Replies...
bettyschierloh avatar
BettyMorganSinger
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the family should make copies of the drawings and use the copies as wallpaper for a family room in memory of Grandfather and in honor of the artist. These are wonderful! God bless you for honoring your Grandfather this way. You show much love.

lauirene19 avatar
IreneLau
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I 100% agree! Or they can laminated and/or frame them then hang it up in memory of Grandfather

Load More Replies...
arthur_belin69 avatar
ArthurBelin
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is really a masterpiece ... A meaning, a style (that I love), a passion, and a goal. What a great guy u are !

neilives avatar
NeilIves
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this idea. I've recently thrown away a lot of stuff like this that I collected all my life thinking; this might come in useful one day; but you suddenly realise that life is shorter than you think. I was able to look at a widgit in my box of bits and remember when I obtained it maybe forty years ago!

markusmuellner avatar
Markus
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cool idea but.. man.. you probably need medication (after the project is finished)

odysseia_2006 avatar
YılmazEsen
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i love this work, i wish i had to opportunity to show him one of my drawings.

gayrobinson avatar
gay robinson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please submit to next years Royal Academy summer exhibition the hanging committee could not refuse Also the public will be amazed at your dedication and skill

marilyn_3 avatar
Marilyn Hesslewood
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! This is amazing! So understand why you feel like this. I still have the tools my father had when he was alive and I'm 68 now.

ranebowriter avatar
Rebekah Gillette
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Make and publish a book with all these drawings- I really like them

snarenkunst avatar
Sef Coppers
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Man this is ace. The wallpaper idea is great. I would put it up my wall for sure. Or would buy a book when published.

ferngotell avatar
Fern Gotell
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This may seem nuts but I want this printed as fabric! It would be so fun to work with!

art_15 avatar
Sharon Westbrook
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would make beautiful pillow cushions, comforters if used for fabric design.

maitramb avatar
Mymy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What an amazing way to remember him! Beautiful drawings and amazing patience! Your grandfather would definitely benamazed/proud of you. Thank you for sharing this with us!

temp0000 avatar
AnoNymous
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can be the guy's way of mourning or OCD or just a way to kill time or a desire to have something to boast about or anything - no commenter here knows the artist's mind so better stop making baseless assumptions. We humans tend to admire gargantuic tasks successfully completed or even tried and failed, whatever they may be, even if they don't have apparent use. As for this artwork, I see no fundamental difference between it and a two hundred feet wide 1:1 scale panoramic oil painting of some battle scene executed with meticulous attention to every detail of every piece of armament and garment and every facial expression that has its own building in which it is exposed for paying visitors. I wish the same - building and paying visitors - happens to this work. It's style is admirable, reminds me of old service manuals with hand-made drawings instead of oversimplified computer models that are in manuals today - if at all.

rosemaryturpin avatar
RosemaryTurpin
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it`s an interesting and worthy project - but I really CAN`T see the point of drawing every nail and screw. One of each type would be plenty for me. He could catalogue the quantities of each, but no need to draw them ALL!

facebook_21 avatar
GregFyans
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you think his grandpa knew and was just like "I'm keeping ALL of this s**t?"

photoshop_expert avatar
GaryBurley
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wallpaper, i couldn't think of a more interesting way to paper a wall

shubham_raut_sr9 avatar
ShubhamRaut
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have tremendous patience my friend. Amazing work. Thanks for sharing with this world.

richard_petch_94 avatar
RichardPetch
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very well done, such patience, my shed is like that but I cannot see my son doing this when I peg out, and my only Grandson died when he was thirteen of cancer, And I bet Grandpa knew where every bit was in his shed.

jos.vanhout.9 avatar
JosvanHout
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great work and exceptional stamina. Monk’s work - must be mind, muscle and nerve wrecking. I would do it digitally and copypaste the spikes and screws, that’s for sure ;-).

barbara_conover_10 avatar
BarbaraConover
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I must have had a similar grandpop. This brought tears to my eyes. What a lovely tribute. Mine is long gone: I wish I had done even a tiny thing like this.

leighann.hargreaves1 avatar
Leigh-AnnHargreaves
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Moving display of dedication and respect to both his Granfather and his Grandmother.

weirdmikerocks avatar
WeirdMike
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holy actual f**k! Dude, next step is to vectorize ALL of those and have someone build something out of everything!

johnathanmphoto avatar
JohnathanM
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Major O.C.D. or "Rain-man" issues going on here? The majority of the tools and items, absolutely... Brilliant! Every single nail, pin or screw? Stupid. Catalog one, draw a line to it architecturally and label it with the correct name/specs and move on. I think it's a wonderful labor of love and art, and I would buy a book of it if it were called, "Souvenirs of Love" or something, but 20 - 50 pages of the same nail, redundant and unnecessary. Maybe that's why he's suffering from some carpal tunnel or repetitive damage already?

lauirene19 avatar
IreneLau
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a talented man and great son! Your dad is looking down and will be proud of you...

roseanne.m.james avatar
RoseanneJames
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a wonderful testament of the love he has for his Grandpa... but maybe he could just draw one of a pile of nails or screws or whatever with the amount of them that his Grandpa had, rather than drawing every single one of them? Still wonderful though <3 <3 <3

carol.mcclellan.5 avatar
CarolMcClellan
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Crazy.But understandable since my mother went through every letter my grandmother had and made binders filled with copies of the letters written between her and my grandfather. I still say photographs would have been easier.

helen.mazzer.1 avatar
HelenFrances
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine if he put all that time and talent towards something useful.

bettyschierloh avatar
BettyMorganSinger
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was something useful! It is a great honor and memorial to a beloved Grandfather; what could be more useful?

Load More Replies...
martina.vesela.503 avatar
MartinaVeselá
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a really great idea. He could've just taken a photo of every single item, but this makes it more personal. It's also a great art practice. Grandpa would be impressed if he could see it.

kingraxx avatar
ValentinRadu
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if you would have spent 10% of the time you waste now doing this ...actually hanging out more with your father .... well you would have felt better. Not judging by any means ...just saying. + i like your drawings ..very OCD soothing

martina.vesela.503 avatar
MartinaVeselá
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The grandpa's dead. This may be the guy's way of dealing with his death. You know absolutely nothing about these people, and you don't know how much time they spent together, smart guy.

Load More Replies...
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