This painting represents a fun and challenging commission. A gentleman contacted me through Piper Arts and asked me to create a watercolor painting of his South Dakota family farm. He asked me to use, as my reference image, a black-and white 8- by 10-inch photograph taken by a camera onboard a small airplane almost seven decades ago. He said, “No cattle nor tractors need be included.” I made many color assumptions about leaves, feedlots, buildings, and pastures. This project was especially meaningful and nostalgic — the farm does not exist today. 

Reference photo: The Reference Photograph. Circa 1959. 8 by 10 inches.