Sunday, May 23, 2010



Square Log

Oil on canvas panel, 6" x 6"
$125 plus $6 shipping in U.S.
Email don@dailyartwest.com for purchase


This old log shed is the only building left standing at an early homestead out Starkey way. I'm not sure what it was originally used for. With that wide door maybe it was a blacksmith shop, or a garage for a buggy. Any ideas?

9 comments:

RUDHI Rüscher said...

Isn't it an old haybarn? As we have here in the alps used in the mountains to store hay for the winter... without doors; it's nice to sleep in with a nice girl;-)

Róisín O'Farrell said...

I think it's a haybarn too Rudhi. We had them here in Ireland, though I can't say I ever slept it one! Beautiful gentle painting. well done Don.

Linda Popple said...

I don't know for what this log building was used, but sounds logical that it would store hay. Certainly is a nice painting. I like all the colors in the roof and the light leaking in through the dark logs inside.

Yuri Wolkovich said...

Excellent work. I like the composition and color.

Don Gray said...

Ah Rudhi, I can see that even if it isn't a haybarn, you'd like it to be one! :^}

Don Gray said...

Hi Roisin and welcome. Thanks for your nice comments. Great to get acquainted with your lovely, painterly work.

Don Gray said...

I appreciate it, Linda--thanks.

Don Gray said...

Thanks, t_rAt!

Don Gray said...

My friend Jim emailed me this morning about the log shed. I think he's probably come the closest to what this building was used for. Here's what he wrote:

"I think it’s a harness shed. I saw a building like this on an old homestead in the Medical Springs area. At that time, I figured it to be something like that. I think they used it to store and apply all the hardware for draught animals. The wide door would allow the rigging of two or more horses side by side. Well, that’s my guess anyway.

"I don’t think it would hold enough hay to keep one sheep alive over a Starkey winter. Besides that, anyone who kept a sheep in Starkey country would probably be lynched."

(For those from other countries reading this, let me explain the "lynched" comment. Much of the rural western U.S., including Starkey, is cattle ranching country. From the earliest days, there was much animosity between cattle and sheep ranchers, who both wanted to run their stock on the vast open range. It actually led to range wars where blood was spilled...those legendary "good ol' days" of the wild wild west!)