This also was a painting that just wasn't going to work. When I originally painted it I was plenty inspired but it's colours were totally uninspiring. I hated the original. I sat that thing up against the wall waiting for it to hit me. The waiting turned into weeks and then months. This past week while I was considering making new canvases I really began to entertain the thought of ripping this one off the stretcher and stretching a new canvas on it never to see the old one again. Yes, that's the truth and it came so close to being shredded.
Then we decided to visit my brother's farm house near Orangeville, Ontario. Standing there on his back lawn looking out over the dramatic rolling hills, it hit me. Unfolding like a carpet that the salesman just found in the back of the warehouse. "You probably won't like this one but have a look anyway".
There I was looking south from the house, out over the green and golden hills. I couldn't wait to get home to my studio and paint it into the old painting I was about to discard permanently. I just knew in my soul what I had to do to it. I knew the colours and the texture. I felt the strokes of the brush even before I set it up.
I give to you "20th Side Road, near Orangeville" and I dedicate the saving of it to my Brother Dan and his wonderful wife Kate. Thanks for having us over. You never know what will come from letting an artist onto your property, huh?