This painting was a gift for a 90th birthday. It was commissioned by daughter Marlene, who is my aunt, making the recipient my Oma. You can imagine how special it was for me to work on this!
My Oma raised her family in this large farmhouse near Pincher Creek, Alberta. I have incredibly fond memories of visiting here as a child, playing tag in the haybales, collecting eggs from the hen house, sinking into the grain in the grain bins. Riding calves, playing with a new litter of kitties, playing ping pong in the farmhouse basement, and coming in for mid-afternoon snack of rosebud chocolates and cardamom cookies.
Marlene requested the farmhouse be painted in sepia tones. With the absence of colour, contrast and shadow become even more important than normal, and I went very dark to attain this.
Marlene framed the painting beautifully with a double matt, and it hangs in my Oma’s room in her Assisted Living building. Happy Birthday Oma!