The Farm Rescue

Thank you, Keith. Glad you like this.

Thanks Warrior, traveler to so many fabulous places. Nice to hear from you.

Many thanks, Emily.

This may have a somewhat familiar feel to you, Sande; not the emergency necessarily, but the kind of summer days in farm life. kids and dogs and pickup trucks. Thanks so much for liking it, good friend.

Many thanks, Imber. I am, you know, a great fan of your remarkable work. I’m glad you like the colors, it seems that it was a departure of some kind for me but I can’t figure out why.

Thank you so much, dear Hilary. What lovely things you’ve written. Hugs back.

Many thanks, Susi, for liking the Farm Rescue.

What a wonderful remark, and thank you, Cariad. I was in that battle painting it, something to do with putting emergencies in perspective. I initially had the child sitting up, but it didn’t work. So I tried to make it as if he were catching his breath, clearly alive & okay, or calming himself down after a wild time, water/doggie rescue/et al.

Thank you, Romo. Very kind of you & I’m glad you like it.

Dear Prairie many thanks for all you said and it meant to you. I loved Alan Thicke when he had a series some family thing, but haven’t had a tv in ages. I love animal stories stories, and like you, always choke me up. I don’t know why we don’t automatically expect the world of them, they always give that.xxooo

Many thanks, Christopher. Much appreciated.

I always love and appreciate hearing from you and your eye, Louise. I wanted a really worried father, a sense he’d been searching for the boy. Maybe something about showing the extent of care in him, his love. And the boy and dog okay, because almost always that’s the case, Maybe he’s telling his doggie, boy are we in trouble. I hope all that comes across without any words. It was an interesting challenge to me once I got into it and realized what I was up to. There’s so much medium-ship in creative work, is there not. You find out much later the what of work you’ve done, and if you’re lucky, the why.

I thank you, always, rosepepper. It was an interesting development because I think I was originally heading into a landscape unpeopled, before the drama hit. And put the answer up close to the viewer, you’re in on it right away; and the question further off. Always so good to get your take, my friend.

Words from the amazing billyboy always improve my day and outlook, my art and brain. I read this laughing, grateful for your or any Lassie references that saved my butt from being taken for a tragedian. You know you bring up a very knotty problem with painting the dying/living/wounded that I’ve faced before. I couldn’t have painted a dead child, it would be an indictment on Huckleberry Finn that I don’t have in me to do. I didn’t want a blood and gore thing, legs akimbo. I wanted enough subtly to intrigue the viewer, not a dog looking into a silent stream with an air bubble rising and a pair of size 2 sneakers on the bank. Also, I for one grew up convinced (and it was justified) that if I’d fallen off a cliff or into a pit as a child the search would have ended before it started and I’d be gone AND forgotten. The image and fact of loving parents always moves me. So I wanted a desperate dad in there. Maybe he’s a nice uncle. A big brother. And doggies always do the right thing, even if it includes biting through your foot if you move their food dish. As I’d said to Louise (somewhere above) I tried to show the child’s head raising, he’s not flat out. If he was sitting up, who would care, he’s okay. His eyes are closed. When you die they pop open. So there’s the story. I am very pleased that it’s resonating in such interesting ways with the viewers here. Even your semi-maniacal excesses, billyboy my buddy. I hope you’re writing lots of music because your brain is a wonderful thing, and should be speaking outloud! Lassie and all her predecessors, as you say, rocks.

Many thanks, Steven. What lovely & heartwarming words to write.

I know these things happen in a lifetime to many people, with different outcomes. I pray it was okay for your mum, for your family, as in my painting. I also hope in my life and painting experience I continue to portray the impressions of my own pathway through the mysteries of being on the planet, and as often as possible for my work to resonate with what’s been important to others, too. It’s part what comes to me naturally, and part real anger at the general ignoring of the depth of experience we all might share. None of us need to be common, and for those who reach for it, all of us are unique. I discovered by complete surprise many years ago that my work moved people. I was not intentionally heading for that at all. Indeed in my youth I was a bit snooty. But when I found that I was able to paint in a way that connected to my fellow human beings, it knocked me over, and then I headed for developing it more in myself. Your work is like that. You present stories behind the portraits you do that mean something always to me.

Doesn’t sound muddled at all old buddy, and I thank you for what your wrote, and that you like it. And you got the sense of freedom, which I’d nearly forgotten I wanted to show, the wide open universe and all its variety to explore for humans and pups.

Many thanks for what you’ve written, Sal. Hero doggies, my favorite things on earth too. Much appreciated.

You’re very kind. I might have touched on some of your favorite colors here, too, Joe. A lot of primaries, and a kind of rivulette feel.

Dear adventuresome Mare! Great to hear/see you, and many thanks. Yes indeed, doggies know things. Best to you, xxoo.

Funny how the wide open fields can conjure up so much for us, delighted that it did that for you, Junior. Thank you.

Thanks, ol’ buddy. Nice to hear your words.

Bless your heart, George. I think that’s what I was heading for, the child’s point of view and the parent, but that kind of breathlessly non-stop full summer day so filled with action and impressions especially for a kid.

Thank you , IRISHPIX.
You’ve got an interesting gallery.

Many thanks, Joe. I am, of course, an ardent fan of the remarkable work you do.

My word, David, you bowl me over. Thank you for all your enthusiasm for this, for my paintings.
You know, I honestly think it’s true if we can only remember it, that rough times are episodic, not permanent. And usually push and inspire us into change that’s valuable. I always thought I owed my enemies something for the emotions produced that lead to new turf.

Many thanks, Trevor. Very kind. I’ll leave up your link for others to investigate, too.

So pleased you like this! Of course, absolutely, Kevin, it’s a good aspect of painting, I’d say you’re right on the money. I try not to do much planning out and as a result I get to see what my brain is up to. Art is a fabulous thing for engaging the unknown and unsaid mysteries.

Many thanks to you, Gene. I have loved reading about your calendar success. Your work is so beautiful.