Striations

Striations, oil on gessobord, 5x7 inches

I talked to a very interesting painter recently whom I met  at a regional art show.  He is from farmville midwestern town USA, that I will leave nameless.  He paints en plein air and his primary subject matter was the farm, which, despite being cliqued for anyone in academia, (I once had an art professor tell our class "NO BARNS") he paints to bring attention to the ever-dying landscape of american life.  His paintings were very Rothko-like....colors moody, abstract-like forms representing flat plains.  He himself, a former professor had left academia, unsatisfied with where it was taking him.  But he had his painting, and he was happy. I snapped a few highway shots on the way to Nashville last weekend and lo and behold, a barn!  I have a different perspective on painting in academia too, but it's come from years on the other side.  And now I too am just happy to paint.