Changing Up A Bit - A Look Again At The "Process"

 

"Past Thanksgiving - November Barn"  - oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

A few friends have noticed I haven't been "yarn spinning" for a while. Getting caught up in other things always gets the better of me...I'm easily distracted... SQUIRREL!!!

 

Where was I? Oh ya; I think I'm changing my old format up a bit and will eliminate the "Archival Works Friday" theme; but still occasionally give some insight to what steers me and my work derived from it. I'll try and bring these up from time to time. I have to admit I never liked schedules because too many things pop into my head and I just give in to whatever shouts the loudest.

 

Some weeks back I posted an image of our old stucco barn here on the acreage...it was a still late fall evening under a crescent moon. It was taken on the evening of November 26th and posted the next morning. I will post that November 26th Photograph in my first comment below...so you can make a comparison from the original photograph below...

Original photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 

I've always been partial to crescent moons. And I've always been partial to the stucco barn here; I believe it to be the only such barn in our county. I could be mistaken but have looked for 20 years and not found another. The barn was retrofitted with concrete stucco sometime shortly after WW2...concrete block reinforcement of the north and west sheds was done first, and concrete buttresses added to the north shed to support or reinforce the addition are fairly unique for an "old" barn as well. 

 

I've done paintings of our stucco barn a couple times in the past...still regret selling one of them. And Georgie - bless her (!) has also painted the stucco barn a few times - literally! She has been up there with the barn swallows many times in the past 20 years with her bucket of paint and brush!

 

After I first brought the November 26th barn image file up on the computer screen, I liked what I was seeing...the photograph was nice yet there were elements in the picture's foreground that did not lend nor add to the support of the image. But I was struck by what I saw in my mind - could I do it justice? Well, that's always the question when I pick up a paint brush.

 

I set out to simplify and celebrate the light and the delicate crescent hanging in that last glow of the remnant day. That silhouette of our barn was almost iconic and somber in color and tonality. Did I mention loving that crescent phase? I embellished it ever so slightly, by increasing its size by about 50%...not too much to make it seem too unreasonably exaggerated. 

 

There was much too much "busyness" in the foreground...all the bushes and shrubs add nothing to the design and composition - they will not be included. That lone crab apple intersecting one of the barn windows was actually two trees, one had been damaged by strong winds many years ago and I couldn't bring myself to cut it down...it was still gifting us with a flush of deep prairie rose colored blossoms on its lop-sided trunk each spring. Another opposing color crab was planted next to it a few years ago and they seem quite happily married now. It will be painted as one, as that's how it appears.

 

The complete idea of the very closest foreground leaves and gravel drive will give the image a resting place, a foundation to support the image. I appreciate those leaves; fall is nearing its end...their least bit of color notes are peaceful on the eyes.

 

But - as you'll notice, I gave the scene my own color interpretation...I am NOT trying to lavishly copy a photograph but give my own sense of the "emotion" the original scene evoked for me.

 

These are my thoughts and goals as I worked on this painting. These are the ideas that formed this attempt to remember this moment in oils. It left a lasting impression on me and this small token of an idea, albeit small, is part of this memory.

 

"After Thanksgiving - November Barn" - oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

All is Good!

 

"Plymouth County Barn Bales"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison 

 

I guess I'm still trying to think positive about the faux-like Spring we had last week...it was hard to work on this painting because it was sooooo nice out!   It got into the 60's and even had some nights well above freezing - and it virtually took out the snow!  It was "that" close!  Oh well...

 

Yesterday we had a good 5 inches of snow - very heavy wet stuff...today it has snowed non-stop here, nothing heavy but persistent...looks like a winter wonderland again.

But the painting is finished and I really did enjoy this one...love thinking of summer as I work!  This image actually sat in my mind for several years...the barn was real, but it likely no longer stands.  Hard to say...I did quite a bit of repair on the structure, but decided not to give it a fresh coat of paint - it needed some "ambiance". 😉

 

Next week is supposed to be in the 50's each day so Spring is really coming...my studio work may suffer, but all is good!

 

 

Getting Ready

 Out paint'n the Barn!

Its been a very busy summer here - all the usual summer work aside.  August has now exited and I'm still struggling to get caught up, to get ready - for my solo exhibit in 4 weeks!!! (Panic setting in...)

"Shed Gate Corner of the Old Stucco Barn"

(plein air oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison)

The exhibit will be at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Iowa...with the reception and exhibit opening on Thursday, October 3rd, from 5-7pm.  The public is 

invited!

"Summer Afternoon Along the Old Field Road"

(plein air oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison)

Back in August, just a couple weeks ago, I participated in the Pearson Lakes Art Center's Plein Air exhibit.  We had to bring in some canvases and get their backs stamped/signed and had 6 days to go out and paint outdoor landscapes on them.  I painted 2 scenes here on the acreage and one I had scouted out south of us in the valley.

I entered 3 paintings - the painting above "Summer Afternoon Along the Old Field Road" was awarded the Juror's Award...2 of the painting sold the night of the reception and the folks that purchased the Barn painting stopped out at the studio the next day and bought another painting to go with it!  Good experience!
 

"Summer Afternoon on the NW Pasture" 

(plein air oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison)

Now it's back inside the studio - the solo exhibit is just 4 weeks away - busy getting ready.

Hope to see you there!!! 

"The Old Stucco Barn"

oil painting  - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

 

Well the big event a couple weekends back is over and I'm still in recovery mode!  It was a successful two days and I'm extremely grateful for that.  Thank you to all who came to visit - we appreciated seeing you and hope you enjoyed your day on the Artisans Road Trip!

 

I had this painting on my easel during A.R.T. - just waiting for some final adjustments and finishing touches...I'd hoped to have it completed by then but the event preparations took up quite a bit of time;  it was close to its final stage though and it was fun to let visitors see it fresh.  

 

The painting is of our stuccoed barn just 30 feet from the studio.  We believe the barn is the only stuccoed barn in the county, but can't be 100% sure.  It was built in the early 1900's but added on to at least a couple times since then.  It was stuccoed sometime in the mid to late 1940's...all this information is garnered from local residents/farmers that knew something about the previous owners and occupants here.

 

As you can see from the angle of the image in the painting, the foundation of the building was reinforced with concrete block at one point - we think that was completed when the stucco work was done - from what the last owner said and the other sources of information, the block was there sometime before 1950.  One other interesting feature that can't be seen in the painting are two flying buttress type concrete elements were added at the time the block was laid.  I don't think you see that very often but don't believe its not totally uncommon with old barns.

 

We like barns and they are a disappearing element in the rural landscape now...too many are being razed and replaced by pole buildings; its very sad.  I do understand the economics of keeping/restoring a barn though...it is daunting.  So far we are spending time each summer patching roofs and keeping the critters out as best we can (except for the Barn Swallows of course!).  Both the barn and our crib have suffered from racoon and woodchuck damage since we've been here.

 

I've wanted to do a painting of the barn since we moved here years ago and actually started one or two but wasn't quite satisfied with their direction.  This angle is more up close and backlit...I think this perspective gives it a bit more drama, plus the main subject is nearly in total shade - creating a totally different feel to the barn.  We let the Hollyhocks and other flowers just take over where they want along both sides of the barn and I wanted to include them...they virtually block all the entrances on the east side in mid summer!

 

As I type I'm aware that I have to get back up on the south side of the barn roof and pick up where I left off last spring with replacing cedar shakes...also have the crib cupola needing patching...these are all chores that are hard to put aside if the building is important to the integrity or aesthetics of the place, and I really feel they are.  We'll keep trying to give a few extra years to them until we no longer are able or have departed for other adventures.

 

Next time you're out in the country, give those neat old buildings another look; they are part of our rural and agricultural heritage!