Homesteads

Suzanne Poursine massion

   I love finding a new “old” homestead barn or farm building to paint.

   The demise of the small family farm, especially the dairy farm, in the area where I live, diminishes the number of these old buildings every year. Wind and fire also take a toll. A favorite subject of mine, the sixteen-sided landmark Teeple barn recently succumbed to high winds and collapsed. Note several paintings of this barn in the thumbnail images to the right. These old structures are not re-built. The dairy herds are almost entirely gone from this area, so there is no need for the traditional dairy barn.

   Driving down small country lanes, I can still find old barns, some being used to shelter beef cattle or to store tractors and combines. I will stop, set up my easel, and start another barn painting, adding to this body of work. Sometimes the farmer will come over to find out what I’m doing on his property. Generally, folks are delighted I’m painting a scene of their homestead, although a little puzzled that I find their old grey barn, weathered by the seasons, worthy of painting.

   Farming collectors have told me that they never realized how beautiful their buildings really are until I had captured them in an oil painting. Many collectors who purchase my barn paintings come from a farm background and want to remember a childhood cherished forever.