Heading Home-Pownal

I've passed this farm a million times since we moved to this area over 30 years ago. It's a local landmark known as the Knight Farm and is only a few miles from our house. Everday this property changes with the light and the seasons...stoic, vigilant, timeless..a welcoming facade that sits right next to the road as you come up over the hill then down to the center of town.

Sweeping meadows drop down behind it and the attached barn is still straight and impressive. Once a successful working farm the majority of the land was recently donated by the family to a Conservation Land Trust and is now preserved for the public to use for all kinds of recreation and also abuts a state park. The fields are cut and baled every year and small herds of deer often graze there at night. Late one rainy night a large buck ran out in front of my truck, then bounded across the road after just knicking my rear view mirror.

The setting sun hit the windows and car just right and luckily we had the camera with us..I had to paint it..the sky was a million colors..yellow, orange, all kinds of blue...with thin feathery clouds streaking across. A magical moment to me.

This is a study in casein...11 x 14 on prepared plywood.

Tryon's Field

Don't know why.... but roads and trails seem to be popping up in my paintings more often.
This pastel of a nearby scene in autumn was just completed and may go into an upcoming show. While horseback riding through this field one fall I came upon an old trail that wanders through the property. The long grasses, thick and blown down by the wind fascinated me. The low sun glanced across the landscape..it was such a peaceful scene. The air was crisp and filled with the familiar scent of wood smoke. I raced home, put my horse in, then raced back with camera in hand to take shots before the sun disappeared.
The old barn in the upper corner is no longer there...it seems so long ago. Times are changing with more people slowly moving into our quiet community. I'm glad I was able to experience the country like this.
The size is 8 x 17.5 on colourfix prepared paper and for sale...please inquire if interested.