I have spent most of my summer weekends driving and hiking around these hills I've found myself "stuck" in the past year and a half. But recently, I've really come to appreciate the simplicity of hiking alone and the beauty I have seen just by taking off on a whim. I've used Sunday afternoons and evenings as a time to get outside and see something, and I've felt it center myself for the week ahead.
A few weekends back I hiked to a pair of waterfalls I haven't been to in over five years. It was a great hike and I had the falls all to myself (a rarity, if you've ever hiked to bigger falls in a national forest). After I got back to the car I decided to take the unknown route back to the main road and to Windsor. It was after getting turned around and not quite sure where I was at that I drove past a little old house on the side of a mountain. There was a nice thick garden planted and a small barn/shed in front of the driveway. On this shed there were very colorful paintings hanging all over. The colors were awesome and I thought to myself, "You have to stop and see where this art came from", but I drove on.
A half mile later, I turned around, because there was no way that I wanted to pass up meeting some amazing mountain character panting back in these hills.
It's a good thing I did. There at the house, working in the garden, was David Greer. An forty-something, shy, quiet, talented fella that had lived on this land his whole life. His mother was sitting on the porch and allowed me to peruse his paintings. They not only were hanging on the barn, but he had them stored in the sheds as well. He has about 20 years worth of art just sitting on and in these sheds.
I was amazed at the detail in his folk-style paintings. The shading was great and the figure style unique and pure. He had not been taught by anyone or had any type of training. He is influenced or inspired by pictures in magazines and more than likely never studied folk art. I was glad to hear he was trying to sell them and told them I'd be back with cash to pick a few out.
The paintings I bought are definitely the catch of the summer, and I look forward to sharing his work with others. His work deserves to be admired.
2 comments:
his landscapes are so remarkable, and I love the way there is always seems to be some solitary figure to draw focus and personalize: the bear, the barn...beautiful!
Also, I am glad you are learning to appreciate the awesome place you live.
those are quite lovely... I really fancy that bear.
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