Wednesday, May 28, 2008


Prop

Oil on board, 6" x 6"
$125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US.
Available for purchase starting 05/28/08, 12 noon PST

This is part of a joined group of old structures at the edge of Union Oregon, which I have always known as the Pony Barn, or Levy Barn.

Adolph Levy arrived in Union in the 1860's and he and members of his family operated a successful dry goods business for many years. Historians, forgive me if I am wrong but I believe the building on the right was used as a carriage house and barn for prize cart ponies the family raised. These days the walls are starting to lean and have been propped up with poles.

At the opposite end a marvelous octagonal building is attached. Go to the March 4th, 2008 blog post to see my painting of it.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was looking at this imagining myself painting the roof on the red building. There's no way I could have gotten those lines so straight and crisp. I like the repetition of wedges. Especially the wedge shape in the grass.

Don Gray said...

Thanks for coming by Silvina. For me the whole reason for doing the painting was that wedge of light on the building. Everything else just kind of fell into place intuitively. But in analyzing the design--you're right. It's really a pretty simple interlock of triangles and rectangles. Even the prop pole forms an inferred triangle with the building.

Anonymous said...

I like old buildings. Here in kansas we see a lot of old one room school houses. Some of them I went to school in. There are also many old abandoned family farms, houses and barns. I love them all. This sweet earth. Will you ever be able to paint it all....Dixie

Don Gray said...

Lots more things to paint than time to paint them, that's for sure, Dixie.

Sheila Vaughan said...

Beautiful Don. You know what Hopper said - all he ever wanted to do was paint light falling on the wall of a building. Majesty.

Don Gray said...

Generous words, Sheila--thank you. I can relate to Hopper's goal, it really is all about light.

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

Don, a wonderful painting of a wonderful old building. I mourn these old sheds and barns :(

Deborah Paris said...

This is a beauty, Don. Great design and sense of light, plus a bit of mood as well. I agree with Sheila, puts me in mind of Hopper.

Don Gray said...

Thank you, Mary!

Don Gray said...

Thanks, Deborah. I'm delighted if it has a "Hopperish" feel.