Winter Horses
February 1, 2012
The Old Schoolhouse in Pritchard on Duck Range Road was torn down last summer. It was in a farmer’s field–a farmer who’d gone to it as a child–and though he wanted to see it restored and taken over by the community, no one stepped forward to do so.
For years his horses used the school yard as their private pasture. Rain or shine–snow or sleet–anyone driving by would see them, the pair of steeds only momentarily looking up before resuming their grazing.
"School Yard Pasture"
Finally, after numerous appeals to various groups to assume responsibility for the Old School, the farmer reluctantly went about making sure it didn’t collapse and possibly cause an accident. Someone told me it only took a couple of hours for it to be reduced to a pile of boards and beams. If one drives by now, the only thing left standing are the horses.
weisserwatercolours 
It about past 10 pm here…Had a quit Easter for me..Just with my Aunt but I was communication with my relatives overseas…
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And also to you, dear Jen–thank you so much! I suppose now it is past there in the Philippines, but I hope you had a good time with your family and friends.
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Wow Lance!
Great piece of work there……..
You never stop inspiring me..
Happy Easter
Best, Jenny
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I am heartened to hear that. Those two States are formidable in terms of space and beauty. If one of my paintings contributes to your feeling back in them, I’m proud. thank you very much T.B.
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I’m glad the horses are still there. I love the painting. It reminds me of my childhood and happy times I spent in Colorado and Wyoming. Thanks!
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Thank you Melanie. I have to smile reading this, because thank god these two aren’t wild turkeys.
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Simply beautiful. If only I could step into such breathtaking stillness.
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I am honoured having you drop in–and even more so to hear these comments. Thank you Steve.
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Part of the fun is creating, and part is seeing what other creative people are doing. I’m pleased that this post got as much viewing and as many favorable comments as it did.
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My goodness, when do you have time to be looking at such things as this? Get out there and get lost! We need to see another bloom!
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Now there’s a pretty painting! The horses really make it.
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Yes, sometimes we cannot find the words for what we see. And you have seen a lot of art in travelling around the world.
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Any language will be pale in the front of art…
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Thank you very much, ‘lisparc’ for being so kind by re-blogging ‘Winter Horses’ on your photographic blogsite. You have been to SO MANY countries, and taken pictures of so many interesting buildings and cities and people!
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Reblogged this on lisparc.
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How very true. And how lovely to see your face! I rather expected something more feline (smile). You have such wonderful photos to share, and the stories with them have brought both belly laughs and the occasional tear. It is a gem of a site.
I feel I’m sitting at the feet of a Percy Walker, or Tennessee Williams or William Falkner who could write but likely not take such evocative photographs.
Your parrot muse is doing a grand job!
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It is an honour to have you comment on this painting, ‘Bosartis’. If I had one wish, it would be that you regain full use of your limbs to once again wield the brush and the full canvas. However, your creative juices are such that you make use of the newest of available tools and break new artistic ground as a result.
I hope everyone reading this will pay you a visit at: http://johnartstudio.com/
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A lovely image, beautifully painted but wistful and sad too with evocative undertones that personally adds another little twist to my, I suppose anger is the best description, at where we as a race seem to be going today. No time for living in the true sense of the word it appears, but more with getting on? Is it money or position? I don’t know and too sore these days to cope with it perhaps.
But your little picture says it all for me – I thank you for creating it.
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Thank you for coming by. It is sad. And it made the newspaper and everyone was scolded for letting it happen. But it was located in such a remote place that even if they had fixed it up, no one was sure what it could have been used for.
Personally, I think it would have made someone a dandy home.
I love your posts. And I really love the one on ‘Miss Sarah’.
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Such a bittersweet scene. I recall many such scenes from my childhood. I think you expressed a universal feeling in this watercolor. We sacrifice much to progress, I know, but it’s sad at the same time.
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um, yes. watercolour. (smile)
Thank you ‘dou dou’ for telling me you like it!
I love your green bird.
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Ha! Nevermind, watercolor right? LOL
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This is beautiful.
What medium?
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Thank you! you are so encouraging with your likes and kind words.
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[…] 1st, he did a post called Winter Horses with the above painting in it. There was much I liked about it but the white horse in the centre […]
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You are so fortunate to live in that State–my god, it’s the only one left that’s as it was. Thank you for complimenting my work–there’s no higher compliment than saying it looks like Montana!
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Great painting. It looks like you flew to my neck of the woods (Montana) to paint this scene.
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Many thanks again, Lance. Truly grateful for the support you give to my work as well.
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Thank you for checking it out and making me feel so good about your having done so. I totally love your photography.
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This is terrific–as per usual. Just tremendous atmosphere in this painting.
A shame about the schoolhouse…at least you’ve immortalized in this wonderful work.
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It’s kind of odd how artists go pell-mell towards derelict buildings like this school, and old, falling-down barns, but as soon as they’re fixed up and given a makeover, artists like me give them the cold shoulder! Well, now there’s NO school . . . so I guess I learned something from the experience. I should have championed the cause more.
Thank you ‘magsx2’ for your thoughtful comments.
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Hi,
it’s always sad I feel when old buildings have to come down, it’s like loosing a part of history.
A beautiful painting, and the school house will forever live on in your work.
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It is a pleasure to receive such wonderful comments, Francina. I hope everyone will visit your site to read your poems from the heart.
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beautiful painting with such a feel of tranquility! Ciao, Francina
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So kind of you, Jessie. I am really pleased you enjoy looking at this.
I hope everyone goes to your site and reads the fascinating post, you’ve entitled: “Snatching Birds from Midair in Nauru”.
It is almost beyond imagining! And the photos are perfectly combined with your narrative. You always take me to places I may have known existed, but never had an inkling over their daily experiences.
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That is a very wonderful compliment to me. Thank you so very much.
I love the photo of the flower on your site this morning. And I hope visitors will go to your blog and check out the variety of categories, including ‘food’, which I find very enticing. You always offer an uplifting post and a positive experience.
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A truly inspiring work, Lance. It’s a very lovely scene you have painted here!
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There is a certain kind of tranquility in all your paintings which makes it soulful combined with your narration. Thank you! for sharing. cheers
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You see past all the technique and silliness and into the heart of things because you use your heart as your guide. Without your avid support and involved interest, many an artist would be somewhat less buoyant. You are an advocate, patron, and guide. To me–going through your postings–you seem to embody what Marcel Proust once wrote: ” The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
You have those eyes, Jane. And you go a step further by helping others to open theirs.
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I’m so glad you didn’t. For me, it is what makes this painting absolutely different, unique and moving. (But what do I know, I’m just a layperson who loves art!)
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Jane, you lift my spirits! Thank you for that. I really struggled with that white horse, chiding myself for not changing it to some other shade.
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As usual, another outstanding painting. The cover in the lower right corner, the sky, but most of all, for me is the white horse. It magically centres the painting without being intrusive. From there my eye explores everything else but keeps coming back to that beautiful, ethereal, horse.
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‘Fergiemoto’, you are a great lover of many animals–and that wonderful photo of your cat ‘Bandit’ proves it. Your page also features a pair of deer. Thank you for taking time to comment on these two horses.
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You’re always so generous in your praise–and your thoughts about winter’s stillness and the absence of the old school make a lovely connection.
Your post today has to do with snow and winter, but not quite with the Season’s stillness! You drove through it all, then blogged and painted it for us. Hopefully, though, you ended up able to watch it descend while sipping something hot and soothing. Thank you for stopping by here this evening.
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Beautiful! Horses are one of my favorite animals.
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This is so peaceful…you’ve really captured the stillness of the winter and I believe that sense of stillness echos the fact that the schoolhouse no longer stands. So incredible. Thank you for posting. I so enjoy viewing your work. Each piece a lesson in technique and storytelling.
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How nice of you. And yes, it was big news around here. Everyone felt they’d let the opportunity slip through their fingers. Mind you, there are still examples of one room schools in the area–but this one had character. Thank you BoJo for once again gracing these pages. I love your roses in black and white.
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Neat story, sad to see an old landmark go by the wayside but at least you documented it in a very beautiful painting.
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Coming from you, ‘sandy’, that means a great deal. I say that sincerely. Your work is very moving.
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I appreciate your blog a great deal. You are not only a person of many talents and disciplines, you dedicate yourself to ‘never forgetting’. In particular, your honouring of Canadian WW II pilots and crew is poignant and appreciated. The fact that you do this sustains their days and upholds them in an ongoing and living memory.
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Beautiful!
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You are a phenomenal artist. I love your work!
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Thank you for re-blogging this post of mine, ‘narthvalur’. I continue to think of you there in Sweden (a place I dream of visiting!)
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Thank you Maenamor, for your compliment! I usually have a number on the go at the same time. I have to go slowly, usually. This was done from a photo taken in the fullness of summer, so my memory of the scene in winter was my only guide–and so it goes slowly or I wreck it. I would guess it takes about eight hours of work broken down over maybe a two week period. Thank you for your curiosity about the process.
Your photos of Wales are a great tonic. I absolutely thrill at the subtleties of the clouds and damp greys and greens. It is such a gorgeous wonder to behold. Thank you for tramping around in conditions most of us would only want to view from behind a pub window.
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Reblogged this on Ann Novek–With the Sky as the Ceiling and the Heart Outdoors.
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stunning…how long does a piece like this take to create…
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your photographs are like paintings, nia–and the poems are beautiful. Thank you for being so kind in your comments to me!
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Sometimes I can’t find the exact words to express my feelings… and to say “so beautiful” can’t be enough for this… Fascinated me. I watch it still… You are such a beautiful artist. Thank you so much, Winter Horses captured me. With my love, nia
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