Ag buildings

I’m fascinated by grain elevators and other agricultural buildings.  They are assemblies of forms unencumbered by conscious design compositions, proportions, rhythm, or contrasts.  Their forms are simply driven by function and added or subtracted by necessity.   However, in these paintings I’ve tried to capture a looming quality to them – an unhuman aspect, and their loneliness in the windswept eastern plains of Colorado. 

I also like the play of light and shadow on their cylindrical forms.

I apologize (to myself, and anyone who reads this blog) for the unprofessional photos of the paintings.  They deserve better, this painting in particular.  My unconscious seems to want to say something about doorways into somewhere. 

I love these unplanned cottonwoods fighting for existence on the plains.  The grain elevators remind me of Kerouac’s haiku: 

Grain elevators, waiting

     for the road

To approach them