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MEDIUM: Watercolor on paper
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SIZE: 18" x 14"
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STATUS: Sold
"The first time I drove past this barn, just a couple of miles from my home, I was intrigued by the American flag hung from the rafters. What a lovely sign of patriotism, in a simple bucolic setting. I returned many times over several years to take reference photos in the morning light. From my earliest visits I saw evidence of the owner's restoration work: old broken siding and missing trim boards replaced, a fresh coat of white paint, clearing of overgrowth outside the barn, repairs to the red tin roof. It was great to see new life in the old building, which likely dates from the early 1900s. Each of my visits revealed changing details in the scene such as a tractor in the barn; a leaning farm gate; farm equipment, ladders, fence posts and other items outside... but always the waving flag captivated my attention. It begged to be painted.
My first attempt at painting this scene in watercolor was cast aside not long after I started. I had composed a big view of the building, including much more of the outside and a bit of the roof. It just wasn't saying what I wanted it to say. It took a couple of years before I decided to give it another try, this time cropping in closely around the view inside the wide doorway. I moved an old steel barrel from the right to the left to balance the composition, and I changed its color from blue to red as a better accent to the flag... and to the reclaimed chestnut barnboard with original red paint which I knew would be the perfect frame. Detail, detail, detail in this work and I loved every minute of creating it!"
