(Private Collection)I was out walking on the trail that goes through the woods around Deep Lake, where I have been numerous times before. I ended up staying straight where the trail turned left to circumvent the lake and ended up at the base of Front Ridge. I climbed the steep ridge and came out across the street from this old house. I did several drawings and a couple of color studies in watercolor before embarking on this painting. I've driven by this house many. many times, but never noticed it. That's why I prefer to go out looking for subject matter on foot rather than in a car, which is the reason that most of the subjects of my paintings are within walking distance of my house. It's evident that nobody lives in this house (In reality, those reddish plants in front of the door extend all the way up the facade to the second story windows, but I "trimmed them back" for compositional reasons.) but, interestingly, that big light that sticks out from the top of the garage comes on every night when it gets dark.
14 comments:
Hi Frank,
Thank you for your last answer...
Today after reading you i've an another question ! : Who is in the garage at night ? That may be a haunted house !
Cette dernière peinture est vraiment très réussie, de part sa composition et son atmosphère. Vos couleurs sont limpides et laissent transparaître la lumière.
Bises
Thank you for your comments. I don't know why the light comes on at night. Very strange and a little creepy.
There have been suicides at this land, property.
Really? Suicides? More than one? That's a bit creepy.
I love the painting as this house belongs to my mother-in-law. This is where she grew up with her parents Clyde and Blanche Haggerty. The light was put up several years back to deter trespassers. The family has had MANY items stolen from the property, inside and out. This property continues to be a very important part of the family's activites. Activities include tapping for sap, beehives, atv riding, snowsledding, hunting and target practice. Thanks again for the painting! It was a nice surprise for all of us when we opened up the newspaper.
PS The light is a solar light which comes on at dusk.
Thanks for all of that information, Laurie. It is a wonderful old house (with a great view!) and it's nice to know more about it.
Your work is beautiful! I am a relative as well (my mother is a niece of Clyde and Blanche). If I remember correctly, there is no electricity inside the house, as Blanche did not want "fire in her walls"! Are prints of this piece available? Thank you.
Thank you. That's amusing about the "fire in the walls". Unfortunately, I do not make prints of my artwork.
I too am a relation to the family that owns this farmhouse. My paternal grandmother is Hannah Myrtle (Hagerty) Donovan, older sister to Clyde. I remember visiting Uncle Clyde when I was a kid in the early '70's. Besides not having electricity they continued to draw their household water from a hand dug well. Clyde died around 1979-1981 after I left home (Bangor). My younger sisters told me about going to his real old fashioned Irish wake - complete with the casket in the parlor, kerosene lamp light and family and friends laughing while visiting in the kitchen.
My mother owns this farmhouse. I have been reading these posts to her. She would love to know who Mumbly52 and pjd1957 are!
My grandparents Cleo and Ervin Drake lived on the Foster Rd. I rememeber this house well passing it many times to and from Houlton. I recognize many of you wonderful paintings from places of my childhood. I now live in North Carolina and miss those places often.
Hi Frank,
I love your work has a primitive quality to it and the palette is wonderful. I am the Grand-Daughter of Augustus and Marguerite Haggerty.
I visited this house in 1970. I have photo taken of my mother Ann Haggerty O'Brien being held by Mildred Haggerty circa 1934 in front of the garage/barn. I remember the holly hocks there and feeling the wonderful breeze there and the white wash quality of the house. I met Clyde & Blanche on that trip. I myself am a fine art color photographer and live in NYC for the last 36 years. Your work is very fresh and the color very soothing. Keep up the good work.
Marguerite O'Brien-Jeannot
I am a relative as well. Aunt Blanche was my grandfather's sister. I remember visiting Uncle Clyde and Aunt Blanche when I was a kid in the 70's. My uncle (Blanche's nephew) owns the land across the street where there is also a vacant house where I spent many summer days-- also with no electricity or plumbing--I loved it there. Deep Lake is on the land too.
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