From Rebok's Little place

        Here is a newer drawing from our Thanksgiving trip. I mean like we drove Thanksgiving Day; so this drawing started Friday morning before the sun was actually up! You would think someone this close to retirement could take enough time off to make a sane trip, but ours was a whirlwind. But we had to see our daughter's little place- the one they are living in until the “real” house can get built. So instead of doing something of the house itself, I do stuff from a window looking out. Leave it to the “ol' codger”. At least now I may not be the only one to remember what was next door! This is the more homey of 2 drawings. The next one is more beak- though not sure it is beak enough to convey what I was seeing at the time. That is the joy of drawing, catching something that expresses what you were impressed with in a pictorial way. Well, catching what was going on in the scene in a way that others may be able to catch as well.  

Iowa Antique

Old barns have surprising variations of light and shade.  Not to mention history! The topper on these Iowa ancients usually sit cross ways to the main structure. They provide a little light, and a great deal of ventilation as well as a magnificent roost for the ubiquitous pigeon!  It is always nice to have some open door or window; the deep shadows invite the observer into the scene. There is always something to explore.  This drawing is a larger format than most recent ones. It is about 16” x 12” Though it may still have the flavor of a more simple drawing.  The reason for that is to make it possible for the old guy to still be able to move his stiff hand across the paper without totally locking up! Check out the “Thumbnails” page and you can see this barn and some other cupolas. They provide a lot of interest. 

Kuhl's Place

         This was the location of Nate and Tabby's wedding in eastern Iowa some years back at the Kuhl's farm -”Keel” is the family pronunciation. I had to check on the spelling. You will have to ask someone else the exact dates for the occasion. Here we have a piece done entirely from memory some time after we were at the spot. No thumbnail or snapshot to work from. It is a good test of memory to try this- drawing from a visual memory of the scene (It is also a good test of memory to try to remember the dates of the wedding!) I am not sure anyone else who has seen the place would recognize it from the drawing! Sue tells me that the barn on the left is actually larger than the “shed” on the right. Which I am sure is true. I will try to blame it on the perspective of the view with little attempt to show depth of field.

         I guess the wedding must have been one of those times when I either had no paper and pencil with me, or we were just too busy with the events of the day to take the time for a 5 minute sketch... That happens too often. There was plenty of activity going on in the yard that day. I think when it was time to get your boutonniere you went through the door you see on the left of the barn where the coolers were for the flowers.

        I was reminded on Fred and Sue's last stop here that the wedding was in September 2000.   

From the Backside

        Here is a drawing done from another of our trips. I cannot say when or where, but the barn is hard to ignore. Maybe you have seen it yourself on one of your gallivants across the country! I am sure you have seen many like it. The sky was a little heavy, yet the tones were not subdued. This side of the barn seems to be mostly unused, though the place is pretty well kept. What the front of this barn looked like, I cannot tell. I did not remember there being any equipment or derelict automobiles hiding in the shadows, but as often is the case, there was no time to take an “explore.” Nor did I want to get chased off the property by some shotgun wielding farm wife! Been chased off enough places when I was a kid kicking around some haunts in south west Nebraska! The thing I like about the drawing itself is the flow from side to side; the lines seem to draw you into exploring the drawing, and maybe unconsciously adding some of your own memories to the scene!

Summer Stop

        

           Here is one of the many places that will be affected by roadwork soon to start just to the south of us. I am sure it will make our traffic much more bearable- at least I sure hope it does... But some of the old places will be gone when the project is over, so there may be some urgency if you want to get a pencil record of some of them.  Not sure how long it has been since this place had occupants. It may be that some ol' bachelor still lives here. Well I am sure that there are plenty of overnight “guests” of the four-legged variety prowling around after dark- pole cats not excluded! Who knows what a pole cat is? Harold O'Brien is the one who told me what they are.

       This drawing was done like many others in the middle of the summer heat. You can see that from the time of day and the temperature recorded at the bottom of the page. It was so hot then that I think some of it has spilled over into this fall- today here it got up to 69 degrees. Inspired me to stick some lettuce seed in the garden to see if we can get some fresh lettuce mid winter under the cold frame. This place has been begging me to do a sketch of it for a long time!

     

      Take time to look on my Thumbnails page and see another quickie...