Old Mill

Old Mill oil 6x6 on  linen panel

This old mill reminds me of the many years I was curator of our county museum and we would go to a historic mill not far from here, the water driven mill had been converted to being run by an antique steam engine, it was always hot and sticky our and since the flour was ground by huge millstones at the end of the day, the stones had to be lifted and cleaned, no small job since they weighed hundreds of pounds each.  This job was made more difficult by the fact we dressed in period costumes , petticots and skirts , bonnets and high button shoes.  Met many interesting people and of course became very sympathetic with our ancestors who did this to provide flour for themselves and the community.   I can hear the water trickling by  and on a hot day it was an especially soothing sound.

Geraniums before window box

I snapped this just as I was about to plant them in the window box, this is a painting that just fell together and is a reminder that there is always good with the bad.( the weather has been the bad)

Summer Geraniums

                                          Summer Geraniums 6 x 8 oil on linen panel
These geraniums are the bright spot in my window planters, everything in the yard and garden is standing in water from way too much rain, much is rotting and it is hard to watch beautiful perenials die because of the excess water but my window boxes are glorious and I just had to paint this. I will publish the photo I worked from in my next blog, see if you can see the composition I saw.

Pretty and Proud in White

Pretty and Proud in White 11 x 14 oil on panel
These chickens were commissioned by a man that had wonderful childhood memories of the chickens on his Grandparent's farm. He remembered the red building on the farm and I am fortunate in having the old barnwood from a hundred year old building on our farm which my husband made into a frame for it.It is wonderful to be able to fulfill a request that brings such pleasurabe memories to it's owner. This was one of those paintings that just flowed from my brush as it came to life. The pleasure was in the doing.

A Little Long in the Horns

A Little Long in the Horns  11x14 oil on canvas panel
This is a recent painting commissioned by a local farmer who keeps cattle as well. This particular animal captured his attention because of her markings and long beautifully shaped horns. I loved her pink nose and her long eyelashes. Seems there is beauty everywhere if we just look. 

Spring Work Awaits

                                Spring Work Awaits 6 x 8 oil on panel
Our spring is late, cold and wet, I brought the wheelbarrow out to my flower garden in hopes I could do some cleaning and weeding, so far it hasn't worked but it has been a bright spot in my yard and is a reminder that at some future time I will have to use the tools to prepare my garden for summer. However, the most prolific thing in it right now is an over abundance of weeds.

Alvarado , Summer of 2011

                               Alvarado,MN. Summer of 2011 6 x 8 oil on linen panel
We live five miles north of the town of Alvarado, MN and because of our extremely flat land in the heart of the Red River Valley of the North we can clearly see the large elevator and storage bins from our yard. We have had an exceptionally wet, stormy spring and although you can see the green of the tree and grass line, the field is still shiny with water standing, delaying planting yet another few days. The unusual light of the the sun behind the storm clouds illuminates the tall structure, or as we call it here the skyscrapers of the prairie. To some this may seem a boring flat land but it truly has a beauty all its own.