Part 4 from the Fields Project: PROCESS

Unlike my plein air compatriots, I work via sketches and photographs. Mostly driving around the first few days of the residency and then setting up my outdoor studio at Castle Rock State Park. This year, I only spent a short time up there due to weather and ticks. I spent two afternoons painting in one of the enormous storage sheds at the Bocker Farm...me and the morning doves, they didn't really appreciate my prescence but they graciously spared my artwork their droppings!

No, this cow was not this tall, but I couldn't resist making this comical rendition.

My work was more abstract than usual, this year. I was fascinated by the patterns of the driveways at the farms and the simple shapes of things.

The

Full Fields Project 2013 Blog Series:

Part 1: Bocker Farm/Barnacopia

Part 2: Walks/Drives/Sights

Part 3: Elevator/Horse Ride/Sprayer

More from the Fields Project in June: early in the week I put the word out that I wanted to see the landscape from the farmer's perspective. What I had in mind was a ride on some farm equipment, I should have know with this group I would get that, and so much more! Gary Bocker was geneorus enought to send me up the elevator, 180 feet...so high I looked down on their enourmous corn bins.The view was spectacular...and a little unnerving for the first 10 mintues (I could see straight through to the ground from the grate we stood on).

In the distance you can see 'The Rail' ... the train cars are loaded with corn and travel a short distance to the main railroad line.

Such a view!

With Gary Bocker, overlooking his corn kingdom! He had never been up here and wasn't going to join me. I insisted that he come, too...I think he was glad he made the trip.

The drive where the trucks cue up with their loads of corn.

I was very lucky to be up there when a load came in, look at that gorgeous yellow grain!

The trucks pull in over a grate and the corn fills the coffers (I hope I have that right!) It was pretty cool, I could hear what sounded like rain, as the corn was pumped up into the giant metal pipes and distributed back down into the bins.

Later that day, driving 'home'. I was at the highest point you see there!

After that awesome elevated view, I drove a few miles to one of their fields and grandson, Winton, took me out on the sprayer (above).

This a very sophisticated piece of equipment, that computer tracks a myriad of info including moisture, and temps. He educated me a bit about weeds, if they grow higher than 4 inches they take more moisture from the soil than the corn.

A horse of course! ...at White Pines Ranch

My third elevated view of the day, this one on a mammal! My horse's name was Chief...prior to our ride we had to watch a video (geared mostly towards a younger crowd). They instructed riders to go stand in front of the horse they wanted and point (so I did!). To my left is fellow artist: Jan Sorenson and in front the owner of White Pines, Gig Bellows. So grateful to her for inviting me out for the trail ride. Chief was a trooper, can't imaging carrying 'me' up a canyon trail..but this guy did!