Monday, December 10, 2007


Hay Day

Watercolor on rag paper, 6.5"x8.25"
$190.00 + $8.00 shipping in US.
SOLD

A larger painting today. Click image to enlarge.

The fence post points to a little cluster of buildings you might just be able to make out. This is the home we built and where we lived for 23 years. I traded a painting for an old empty farmhouse and we moved it onto a small acreage we bought. Later, my father and a good friend helped me build an addition onto the house. Our three kids grew up there...the place is resonant with many memories.

The trees we planted have grown tall. The woman who owns it now has made many improvements and takes very good care of the property. It makes us proud and not a little wistful to think that we started that little "homestead."

There's one thing we don't miss, though: the wind blows like crazy all winter long!

5 comments:

Suzanne McDermott said...

That's good coming home experience. — to be able to look at something you created with blood, sweat and tears that has since taken on a life of its own. Not unlike some paintings and songs. Thanks for pointing it out.

Sheila Vaughan said...

Love the way you handle wide open spaces Don and again that beautiful rich use of water colour.

Don Gray said...

You're right about that, Suzanne. We look back now with a certain amount of amazement, wondering
"how did we do that?" We were young and naive when we began that project, enthusiastically leaping in because we didn't "know better"--confidence born out of ignorance.

But confidence is confidence and it goes a long way. I realize now that the "nothing is impossible" attitude is so precious, and harder to maintain as we age. It is something we must try to protect and cultivate within us our entire lives.

Don Gray said...

Sheila, you're very kind. Thanks for stopping in.

Deborah Paris said...

Lovely work and a terrific back story as well. You are so right about holding on to that sense of confidence and awe and wonder at the world. BTW, I got tagged by Joan Dagradi after you tagged her-fun!