The Daily Spectrum - Hope Barn With Red Silo

   I began this painting about two weeks ago, back on May 13th, 2015. I started with the usual sketch and I was actually pleased with it the first time around. I then started painting the sky and added a base color of green for the foreground grass. The barn, house, and walkways were then painted in on the next day as the green was taking a little longer to dry than I had anticipated. The fence was left white when I originally painted the grass.

   Two days after that on Saturday the 16th, I worked on the entire painting again. I felt certain aspects seemed "off" or were missing. I got a little creative and added sheep in the field and a flower garden up front. I hit the silo with a deeper red, and shadows were added to the house, barn, and silo as well. I then added in another top layer of grass and touched up the fence. By the following Monday the 18th, the work was finally completed.

   I get asked quite a bit about two aspects of this painting, which is not even three weeks old - why is the house two different colors & why did I name it Hope Barn?
 - Answering the 1st question is a little in depth; this farm expanded over time like many farms did in Maine and throughout New England. The original portion of the house was brick. An addition was added, most likely when the family grew. That section of the house is actually shingled. The small portion of the farmhouse between the shingled addition and the barn was a second lighter shade of shingles, but I blended them more with the ones that are on the main house, and the barn is gray. So, yes - if you look at my original photo I took of the farm, it truly is four different colors!
 - The answer to the 2nd question isn't as complicated. I didn't name the barn or farm at all. It just happens to be in the town of Hope Maine. Mystery solved!

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Second South Addison Farm

   A few days ago, I posted a blog and a painting about a farm with red poppies which is located in South Addison Maine along the Down East coast past Bar Harbor. Believe it or not, today's painting actually began as that particular painting with the poppies almost two weeks ago, but the concept didn't feel right, especially considering where I had placed the barn.

   Perspective, especially on buildings, had been a challenge that week. For example, the house and its dormers were not one of my strong points. I spent an entire morning focused on the redraw of that particular aspect. I will admit - I am persnickety when it comes to certain details. I want to get it as close to "right" as I am able. But this also has to blend with how I want to the finished work to look.

   It's not easy for me or other artists to admit that we are not perfect, nor do we sometimes intend to have a certain art work "look" perfect. If I wanted a piece to look the same as a photo, I would just paint over an enlarged photograph. I also have to digest the fact that this series of paintings is primarily being done for myself only. I'm not out to prove anything and this is sort of an experiment. I like barns - I love the mystery that sometimes surrounds them. I love the history and the tales they can possibly tell. I enjoy the feeling of driving along and coming upon one, especially if it has a great deal of character, around a bend in the road. It's like a surprise... sort of like finding a hidden treasure or that unexpected rare item at a steal of a price at a yard sale.

   After being reasonably happy with the results last week, I let the painting dry for a few days. I then went back and glazed a layer of green on the grass before calling it finished.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - South Addeison Farm With Poppies

   My first order of business is to say thanks to all those who have read my blogs and have embraced my new series on barns. I'm glad you like them! This entire series is being done in oils - which is also my response to an email I received the other day. A particular art & barn aficionado asked why I was only publishing about two blog posts a week, (she was bumming they aren't daily at this juncture), when my blog is entitled, "The Daily Spectrum". The simple answer is, I have to wait for the paint to dry for at least a few days before they can be photographed, otherwise the glare from any lights brings out an unwanted shine and tweaks the colors something awful. So - my apologies in advance for the delays.

   Week number two of the barn series begins with a photo that I liked from a book that was on my work table. The composition is of poppies with the barn and farmhouse in the background. I was taken in by the write up about this flower symbolizing the eternal and everlasting quality of the perennial always returning.

   However, I'm not sure if this farmhouse and barn are lived in and utilized now. Will this barn be repaired and kept up? From the photo, the place seemed abandoned. The grass looked overgrown and there are no tire tracks or path to the barn. Perhaps this piece of real estate is up for sale and will have new owners breath life back into it.

   On Wednesday of last week, I had to redraw the composition as my point of view (or perspective) was off, even though it made for an interesting piece. However, I desired that the painting be readable to the viewer and not abstract or confusing. At first, my main concern was for the poppies. I appreciate what they symbolize. Plus, I enjoy the drama of the bright red against the natural carpet of green. Lastly, I wanted to use the flowers to give a sense of distance between them and the buildings.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Deer Hill Farm

   This working farm in this painting is across North Pond (the body of water in the center) in Union Maine. While this particular farm is not as industrious as it once was, it still boasts four large barns and a farmhouse. Despite the name, it was primarily a cattle farm in its heyday.

   Believe it or not, the people who own this 185 acre farm won the lottery and purchased the property for approximately $4 million dollars about 15 years ago when the real estate market was at its zenith here in Maine. This story was relayed to me when I used to work in the local school system. The new owners were a sister-in-law to one of the teachers I worked with. Getting back to the farm, I do believe there are still a few cows remaining, but not as many.

   This past Monday, I sketched in the house in the foreground, the hillside, trees, bushes, and buildings. Then I painted the sky, the background a dark purple, the house was brown and tan, and finally the grass by the farm was a spring green - popping out that area. My eye was drawn to the center, but the overall perspective wasn't pleasing to me.

   I also painted in the green evergreen to the right of the foreground tree, but I found that aspect to "crowd in" too close to the farm - and wasn't happy with that either. The more I looked at it, the more I thought this painting was producing a great deal of struggles.

   Two days later, I altered the hillside color, toned down the grass, added other greens to the foreground grass, changed the house to a reddish color, and finished the foreground tree. I then added a brown glaze to the white dirt road and called the painting done.

   Working a farm is not easy - sometimes painting one can be just as challenging!

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - A New Beginning

   I paint because for me there is nothing else like it. Painting is a unique experience with every canvas begun. A "new beginning", for me, is rarely a single spontaneous action. It usually involves several other actions that fall into place and spawn a bigger idea, which then I see if it will develop into a concept.

   This past Monday, I worked on three canvases rendering barn scenes from around the mid-coast area of Maine. In my travels, I have noticed these sometimes large structures and wondered about them as well as the life they have or had. Some barns are still used for livestock, some have been converted into large chicken coops, some were horse liveries, and some are being used for storage of boats, cars, and even planes.

   Barns represent a time in history that for the most part has passed. While many are still in use and in good condition, just as many have fallen into disrepair or collapsed. In dealing with the latter, it is because the farm is no longer active or abandoned. In other cases, the funds were not available for upkeep and/or insurance companies do not want to pay out the costly funds to rebuild.

   When I traveled back north from Georgia to Maine in the spring of 2014, I noticed that farms with substantial acreage were going by the wayside. Some were for sale, others were selling off portions of land. Some of the ones still operating have added income by becoming a bed & breakfast with the barn being used for entertainment purposes. I must admit - people are innovative. I still see the good 'ole Yankee Spirit in action.

   This barn in Rockland Maine came together rather easily for me. I sketched the barn with burnt umber then laid in the sky, grass, barn, background, trees, bushes, red sticks in front, and finished with the scraggly tree (as a friend who viewed the painting put it). Two days later, I approached the painting again and added all the shadows giving the barn and bushes depth.

   This is the first in a series of barn paintings I started working on this week. I have officially ended the Gallery Wall Talk series and would like to thank all those who viewed my works, liked them on Facebook, and commented about them! Please continue to do so with this new series!

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #46

   Success - noun. The favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals.In other words, you accomplish what you set out to do. Today's painting has a looser feel to it as the background wash blended easily. Being able to pull off this particular aspect in a watercolor, was another success.

   The vase was easily constructed with a few simple lines - a break from some of the paintings I had done earlier where the vase was solid. The flowers feel playful and full of life. I wanted to make the colors more than vibrant - I wanted to make them wild.

   Being able to experiment while still working in the same medium genre and subject matter should be important to an artist of any skill level. It keeps us from becoming complacent.

Until next time,
The Happy Pinter,
Jill