The Hudson Public Library has one of the most beautiful spots I know of, to view the Assabet River.  Last year's painting of this spot sold, and as I was quite attached to the painting I wanted to replace it.  This year the painting is larger (18x24), and is on stretched canvas.  The river, like a lake here, has swans, which are not in the painting.

The "small farm"was run from the late 1980s through 2016 or 2017 by Barbara and Dwight Sipler (see http://small-farm.org).  Recently the farm was undertaken by Elena and Karl (http://www.small-farm.com) who continued growing vegetables and flowers using sustainable methods.

This painting was painted from the trees bordering the farm along the road.  A view opens onto the field nearest the road, in such a position that the morning sun hits the field.  I brought a lap painting kit and finished a 5x7 in about four hours, making friends with the local cat and seeing Karl and Elena as they inventoried.

Small farm, Stow.  5x7 oil on linen

Pilot Grove Farm raises chickens, which walk around in the shade, scratching and resting during the day.  Their inquisitive looks and gentle curiosity inspired me as I painted the livestock barn and rail fence.   I studied them and then painted them quickly.  The result is six inches by six inches:

Pilot Grove Farm barn, rail fence and chickens; 6x6 inches, oil


























































July 1 2019

June 27, 2019:  This small painting of Pilot Grove’s silos, barns and sheds shows the beautiful wooden architecture found throughout the farm.  The farm’s chickens kept me company while I painted this 6x6 inch oil.

Pilot Grove Farm 6x6 oil

Pilot Grove Farm was named by its founder Abijah Warren, in 1782.   After he acquired its land in Stow, Warren learned that ship pilots in Boston used the stand of pines on his hill as a landmark for navigation. Boston is over twenty miles away from the farm.
The Warren family has been operating it ever since.  Sheep, beef cattle, chickens, and hay are some of the things raised and grown there.  This view is southward from Crescent Street and it shows the barn overlooked by tall pine trees which may be in the location of the original "pilot grove." My painting is six by six inches, oil on stretched canvas.

Sources for this post include a Pilot Grove Farm talk by the owner (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZAVH-7dpXY); and an article about long lived Massachusetts farms at: http://freedomsway.org/100-years-and-still-going-strong/

Ferjulian’s Farm in Hudson is crisscrossed with lovely stone fences which wall in the dirt on the hillsides.  Last year I did a view of the farmhouse and barn from below:

Ferjulian's Farm, 8x10 oil on linen, from Chestnut St.

and this year I decided to do another version in spring.  As I finished a huge tractor pulled into view on the hillside. After it was parked and only partly visible I was able to sketch it.  

Ferjulian's Farm, 5x7 oil on linen, from Chestnut St.

Ferjulians Farm seen from Main Street and Chestnut Street rests on a dramatic rise.  This four-generation family operation includes beautiful greenhouses and an orchard overlooking its farm stand.  On a weekend walk I sketched this view up Main Street, later returning with oil paint.

Ferjulian’s Farm from Chestnut and Main Streets, Hudson, 5x7 pen on paper

Ferjulian’s Farm from Chestnut and Main Streets, Hudson, 5x7 oil on linen