The Rural Voice, 1978-10, Page 5Farmer and two horses in bright colours, is on Earl Stebbens'
barn, south of Dashwood.
Barn art:
It still flourishes in Western Ontario
By Sheila Gunby
You, know, farmers are really creative --
Despite those long, long hours -- working from "dawn to
dusk" -- chores and more chores -- some of those farmers take
time. or rather -- make time -- to paint a picture on their barn.
An original painting.
Have „on noticed any paintings on old barns lately?
First one that caught my eye was in Ashfield township just
nor th of the sixth concession
Tom Culbert has painteu lwo large black horses, facing each
other, on two doors on his shed.
"1 like horses," he said, when asked what inspired him. Tom
first painted them about ten years ago; recently he gave them a
fresh coat.
Horses seem to be the preferred animal. But Mrs. Graham
Eagleson, R.R.8 Parkhill went out with some white paint and
painted a rooster on the front of the chicken house. It was
painted a few years ago but is still noticeable from the road; it is
quite unique.
Back in Ashfield township, John Austen painted something
different -- a geometric design. The pattern on the side of his
barn was inspired by a picture he saw in school of a train track,
receding into the distance, with telephone lines on both sides of
it. He has transferred this idea of receding lines into an abstract
design.
In order to paint the barn. John painted eight new boards at a
time, giving Thein three coats of paint. Then, when they were
dry, he removed eight old boards and put the new ones in their
place, This is how he did the whole barn. His colours are unusual
too- two shades of brown.
In McGillvary township, just south of Greenway, is a beautiful
black horse with white feet; its painted on the cement
foundations of the barn. The horse is life size and close to the
ground; at first, you think it's real .
'I he barn is situated on a farm owned by Olive Horner, R.R.3,
Parkhill, but it was painted by Roy Whiting many years ago.
when he owned the farm. Stan Horner (nephew of Olive Horner)
has since. repainted it and has done an excellent job. There is also
' THE RURAL VOICE/OCTOBER 1978 PG. 5