The Findhorn Farm Workshop in October 2009

“A Barn is a Barn is a Barn.”- Robert E. Wood

“Whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together.”- Jonathon Swift from ‘The Gulliver’s Travels”

“No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.”- Booker T. Washington

Most artists I know have at one time or another painted barns- on paper of course! What is there in a barn that artists are so attracted to? Is it nostalgia, or is it the weather beaten old structure that stands to tell the history? I believe it’s the nostalgia that got me started. However, there is something about the simplicity of the shape of the barn that delights the painter. He can put down some basic shapes without too much trouble and not get involved with the intricacies of foliage of trees and other landscape forms. There is a quiet dignity in each of these wooden structures. The modern metal buildings don’t do much for me. Chicago Tribune reporter William Sladick wrote, “In many ways, we in the city tend to make things more complicated than they actually are. That may be the draw these farms have for me- the simplicity of the way of life.”

All this thinking about barns comes from my yearly workshop at Findhorn Farm in Wisconsin- a favorite place of mine for almost a decade. Each year I greatly look forward to it. I don’t know what it is that I like-the wet grass with cool crisp air or the smell of the chopped woods –pine, spruce and oak. Nature is in its full glory in October, and it has almost become a ritual. Away from the crowds and the noise except the ‘cowrious’ moohs coming for a drink in the creek that flows thru the farm.

Sometimes rain, sometimes warm sunshine, snow, or freeze-we’ve had it all. My friend, Sonny, is always busy throwing one more log into that pot belly stove in the farmhouse or making hot chocolate for us. Once in a while he manages to take a quick nap in the lazyboy when we are all working outside. In the evening we have the critique in the motel with pizza, wine and beer. This is when I splurge with greasy diet (brat, beer, cheese in Wisconsin). We don’t get chai or latte- just plain hot cider and chocolate. Reedsburg doesn’t have Starbucks or WalMart. It started raining on the third day. We took shelter in the farmhouse-a bit cozy but enough room for us. The group is small. Discussions are lively and informal. And alas, those barns. Red beauties on the landscape. I shall look forward to seeing them again next year.

Ambiance

Rehearsal

Conducting

Performance/ A Paint along

Finale

Happy Painting!!!
On a wet day a wet in wet is the obvious choice

Other plein air paintings of Findhorn Farm