The Daily Spectrum - Spring Has Come To Maine

This is the time of year when I seek diligently to find new things to paint. Driving through the backwoods of Maine, exploring places I haven't seen yet. You might think I'd get tired of old barns and farms. I don't. They each have a personality like the person who designed and built them.

There is the purpose of the barn to consider. Does it house cows, horses, chickens, Alpacas, sheep, goats, rabbits or guinea pigs? Each animal has different requirements in a shelter as well as a unique personality - a cow can be easily fenced, where a sheep cannot.

Does the barn have a colorful tin or metal roof, or is it a shingled one? Moods and time of day need to be taken into consideration. What is my color palette? What am I trying to say about this farm?

Why do I paint farms? Farmers provide for our needs - food to eat and wool for clothing. Farms are also 100% American made.

I sharpen my skills of perspective with each barn scene I paint. They say practice makes perfect - but even the Amish drop a stitch in their quilts to remind themselves to be humble. I paint in a red plank in the same vein to remind myself it's okay to make a mistake. Only God is perfect.

Until next time,
The happy painter,
Jill