Thursday, October 18, 2007

The One Where I See the Future

On my way back from Roxbury last Sunday, I drove past a number of barns and other structures that I have painted in the past. I always have my camera with me and whenever I go anywhere, I usually take at least a few pictures to use as future reference. This is a photograph of a building that I took last June.


A couple of weeks ago, I finally pulled it out and thought I'd have a go at it.

I liked the cupola and in the past have tried to include them in paintings with little success as I have a tendency to get too fussy with them. However, this time I thought I'd include it, but as an element that is no longer really there. So this is what I did:


Now for the eerie part. On Sunday when I passed the building I nearly drove off the road. No cupola!


The building is being gutted and possibly demolished, but on the very day I saw it, it looked a lot like my painting.

You can pretend that you hear the theme from The Twilight Zone now.

14 comments:

indigomar said...

The Twilight Zone theme is stuck in my head now! and yes, i'm east of Columbus and way North, near the shores of Lake Erie.
We have lots of barns in this area, many are going the way of the building you posted. It's sad to see them go...

Lynnea said...

Oh I heard the twilight zone theme...you got a gift

Christine DeCamp said...

Tracy, Maybe you weren't consciously aware before of how powerful the act of painting something really is.........I have a good story about that & I'm going to go & put it on my blog with a link to you, as my inspiration.
Christine
http://passionforpainting.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

If I ask you really, really nicely, would you email that first photo to me as the largest file you have for it? I'm fiddling with details to restore a Victorian house, and this could the information I need, pretty, pretty, talented painter girl. (There's more where that came from, farm goddess.)

Debre
here(at)debredemers.com

Natalya Khorover Aikens said...

wow, how truly bizzarre.... the painting is gorgeous by the way...

Tracy Helgeson said...

I know, it is sad to see barns to go. But it's so dang expensive to fix them.

Maggie, yes I believe I do have a gift:)

Christine, maybe, but this is definitely a new experience for me! Thanks, and I look forward to reading your story.

Debre, flattery will get you everywhere. I am just sending them now.

Natalya, thanks and I know, it IS weird.

Lisa Call said...

I just watched the movie "stranger than fiction" with Will Ferrel the other day. He discovers an author is narrating his life. You might have the same talents - better check out the movie.

Shawn McCann said...

That is definitely freaky. Think of the fun you can have with it though! By the way, I really like the treatment of the painting and think you should try more of this.

Natalya Khorover Aikens said...

I am sorry to report that I tagged you Tracy. Hope you don't mind... Please check my blog when you get a chance.

tlwest said...

LOL that is weird!

Kesha Bruce said...

Spooky.

Also---you are SO going to love the Vermont Studio Center! This painting made me think of it.

gary rith said...

But the barn was so pretty!
Hey, thanks for the visit and the honey.

Steppen Wolf said...

Interesting post - loved it...

Tracy Helgeson said...

Lisa, Yes, me and Will, two peas in a pod. I will look for the movie.

Thanks Shawn, I am bit concerned about my powers now and will have to be very careful with the next piece:)

Um, thanks, Natalya. I try not to participate in these things, however, I usually end up doing it anyway. Thanks for thinking of me (I think) and maybe I can come up with 7 random things about myself, that I haven't already endlessly discussed here:)

Terry, I know, very weird...

Kesha, Will I love it because there are many barns there?:) I plan on NOT painting barns while I am there!

You are welcome, Gary. We had a great time.

Thanks Sunil.