Tuesday, May 1, 2012

When I Met Harry


Chase City VA, pastel, 16x12
I finally had this framed last week--the 98-percent finished pastel had been lying in my studio since October .  When I showed it to friends, they said, "That's Harry's house."  I asked, "Who the heck is Harry?"

I was one of the artists invited to display a few works at the celebration of MacCallum More Museum and Gardens' listing on the Virginia Landmark Register and on the National Historic Register.  Since it's in Chase City, I set up this painting at the Sunday afternoon event (I also took my iPad and a printed copy of my iPad Bottle painting). 
When I Met Harry
And.......someone fetched Harry!  He said he chose the old mill because it was the most interesting building in Chase City.  Perhaps the building and occupant found each other.

Every local who saw the painting had a great story about the Southside Roller Mill, the water tower, or what they did down by the railroad tracks

MacCallum More is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon; here's a photo from an earlier visit. 

Autumn at MacCallum More Museum and Gardens



Posted by Picasa

22 comments:

  1. You always include such interesting vignettes when you post on your blog, Hallie. I love the way the fence in the foreground sets the perspective.

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  2. Hi Robin. Small towns in rural counties have very interesting people, and they always have something to say.

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  3. Great painting, love the bold and fresh colors and the strong contrasts!

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    1. Thank you, Jane. This was fun to paint, but deciding what should go and what should be moved a bit took time.

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  4. I love this industrial piece, Hallie. How cool that you got to meet Harry too. That last photo is exquisitely lovely!

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    1. Hi Crimson Leaves. Meeting Harry was a good reason for reposting the painting. I had planned to post three photos of the Gardens--two didn't complete the journey between Picasa and my blog; I didn't want to start over.

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  5. I think this post should be called "When Harry Met Hallie" :) This is an awfully neat little event-meeting the owner of the "house". I never would have imagined that anyone would live there. Wonder what the inside is like. Is he an artist? I'm sure I must have already said this when you posted this unframed, or something like it, but I love the geometry of the piece.

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    1. Hi Dan. I had heard of a interesting man who lived in an old mill. Not once did I think it might have been this place. Yes, he is an artist. I also heard that he makes beautiful furniture.

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  6. Hi Halie--I've been watching Youtubes on the Pleiadians--you know the people from outer space that colonized earth and manufactured the first humans? Unbelievable what's on the net. Anyway, with all this running around in my head, I saw the little icon of your painting, and couldn't see the support structure for the water tower. Looked just like a space ship taking off. I thought, "they've gotten to Halie!" Imagine my relief when I opened the full sized version. Seriously, that's some nice painting. All the best!

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    1. Hello William. I thought long and hard before adding those legs--not just because one wrong mark could ruin the piece but because part of me wanted it left as a spaceship. It would have commemorated my sighting when I was about five years old. I don't know whether I ran fast enough to escape abduction or I'm a Pleiadian reject.

      Thanks for the comment; Blogland missed you.

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  7. So now, isn't there a movie titled "When Hallie Met Harry"? I love the story and the painting. By gosh, that IPad looks awesome as a support for one of your exhibition paintings. I so want one.

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  8. Hi Mary. That's my SolTek easel supporting the painting (needed one for all that plein air painting I do). I took my iPad to the event--I loaded photos of all my artworks into it and can display them as a slide show--impressive. Here's what I learned: Inside, it's a great way to show portfolio; outside in daylight, viewing is difficult. I did demonstrate some of my drawing/painting apps.

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  9. Great that you got to meet the man who lives in such an interesting building. I think this is just what I should do...live in a big building, but I would need someone else to pay the heat bill. I love the fence in the foreground of your painting. It really gives it something special. You are so good at choosing subjects that spark questions!

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    1. Celeste, you definitely need a large building--with an easel in each room.

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  10. Yes...it may be true...you may be having tooooo much fun...
    I haven't been over here to scroll through all of your wonderful experiments...lookin' good
    and
    FUN!

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    1. Hi Donna. Didn't I read on your blog, "I am where I should be?". I will get back into my workshop/studio soon.

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  11. I don't think there's any hurry about gettin gback inside the workshop...it's an ongoing great inspiration to see you having such a blast!! May it continue to continue '-)

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  12. Donna, I hope you're right. Hurrying is just not part of my nature.

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  13. What I have always loved about your work Hallie is your ability to make connections. Your work has meaning and impacts others.
    I loved this painting when you first showed it and love it still. Your bottle iPad painting looks great printed out!

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  14. PAMO--hello. Thank you. I do believe that, somehow, all living things are connected.

    I did enjoy hearing all the stories,about Chase City.

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