I have started a project suggested by Martha Marshall--to paint 12 paintings on the same subject matter in order to help create a distinctive style given the same size paper, the same subject matter and the same palette.

I count this as my second painting. Today the insects were out in full force even though I left home earlier than usual hoping it would be too cool for them to bite in earnest. I also found that my paint was taking a long time to dry so I did a small painting while I was waiting. I seemed rushed, out of focus and bewildered by bites while doing this painting.

I did something else that I won't try again. I don't like to waste paint so I just added my new triad colours (Cobalt Blue, Aureolin, and Rose Madder (I don't know if it was "genuine") to the colours of the previous triad. A big mistake because the mixing was horrible. I couldn't get a grey I liked so everything is brown that should be grey. So I learned about sticking to three colours and not messing about in order to save paint!

(Back to Zealand House 2)

The no-see-'ums and mosquitoes were out in full force for the first time this year! I spilled my water all over everything (except my painting) and had to clean up. The painting fell into the sandy dirt and mixed some granules with the paint. But something else happened when I started to go faster because of the aforementioned incidents. I seem to have better values in this picture. I also think that because the building was not architecturally sound, I couldn't rely on what I knew the windows should look like so things are less stiff.

I am a painter of sharp edges, though, and need to work on those edges that disappear. First, I have to find a reason. That's next.

(Back to Zealand House)

I've had my eye on these buildings for some time--the reddish/orange doors and frames caught my eye. The owners were kind enough to let me sit in the yard and paint this picture. The building that was formerly a house was turned into a stable. Apparently the shakes and the nails were hand turned on the house. The buildings are more than 80 years old but I don't know by how much.

There's a third barn on the site and that will be done at some time in the future.

I had to pedal 26 km for the round trip. My behind was very sore!

(Back to Williams' Old House and Barn)

This painting is one of two that I did from two different viewpoints. This separator was chained to a post beside a market stall that sold fruits and vegetables (in BC where my mother lived). The colours were gorgeous from the weathering and, of course, it brought back some memories of my teenage years.

When my brother and I were eleven and thirteen respectively, we went to Alberta to live with my aunt and to do the farm chores. We looked after many chickens, a few pigs, and milked about 8 cows twice a day. We fed all the animals, sometimes made churned butter, separated the milk from the cream, cleaned up everything (including sterializing the separator which is quite a job as there are lots of disks to clean between). We also did the inside work, emptying the honey buckets, cleaning, washing and waxing floors, liming and washing out the outhouse, pumping the water from the well and carrying in buckets of water by hand, washing and hanging out clothes, chopping and carrying in wood, etc., etc., etc. Anyway, it is a memory from a year's very hard work (for no pay!)

That's my nostagia with this piece.

(Back to Cream Separator)

This morning it was very foggy and the temperature was 13 degrees C. I took a chance on its not raining and pedaled in a different direction to another site that has lovely barns. I have painted here many times and age is beginning to take a toll on the buildings. One of the sheds was burned down a couple of years ago. The house burned well before that. The weather is gradually destroying the doors but from a distance they are still impressive. These barns must have been wonderful when they were first built. Hay and bindertwine and old machinery are everywhere inside the barns.

When I first found this place, a man and his wife approached me to see what I was doing. They took my picture which surprised me. They told me a bit about the place but they didn't have much information. In the yard between the barns I once found a page of an old local newspaper dated 1956. Of course, I took it home and mounted it on a board. No Trespassing signs have now been put up on all the buildings.

Before I finished, the wind picked up and the air became so cold that I could hardly hold onto my brushes. I had to give up because it began to rain.

I have also begun my next triad of colours: Cadmium Red, Ultramarine Blue and Gamboge

(Back to Three Abandoned Barns)

It was very cold riding my bicycle to my painting site. I had just finished blocking in the sky with its dark clouds when it began to rain. You can see the drops on the work. I covered everything with a piece of plastic and waited it out. Mr. Brewer (the man who looks after the farm) was kind enough to come out and offer me shelter if it should rain harder.

I have also changed to the next triad: Winsor Lemon, Winsor Blue [Green Shade] (except I could only find Winsor Green [Blue shade] and Winsor Red. Wow, do these colours ever pack a punch!!

(Back to Coulter's Three Barns)

I pedaled my bicycle about 8 km to my favourite painting spot--Coulter's Old Farmstead. The first time I painted these buildings, the current custodian came over and told me the history of the place. His father (Mr. Brewer) used to work at the farm which has a lot of land attached to it. Years ago, water was carried via wooden pipes from the ridge behind the house to the upstairs where it gave running water to the family. There was a special lean-to (now rotted away) attached at the side of the house that was used to store milk, cream, and butter. There are a number of outbuildings including three barns. Three years ago there used to be cattle around the yard and fields, but no more. Now it is populated by dozens of red winged blackbirds protecting their territories. Their songs are beautiful!

I imagine that the family who lovingly build this house must have been proud of its grandeur. I estimate it to be about 100 years old.

(Back to Coulter's Farm)