Deux Buses

High up on a ridge, sits a large silo. It resembles a large church; reminiscent of those that one sees in some American country landscapes, with its simple but solid form and plain bright paint. It is sometimes known as the ‘cathedral on the ridge’ but this imposing structure is in the south west of France in the heart of the Périgord Vert and reflects the agricultural importance of the cooperative in action.

In this painting the silo sits isolated on its ridge as if at the top of the world. A ladder on the corrugated façade tempts us up to the door at the top, which reflects the blue, blue sky and a small cloud, promising us incredible views to feast our eyes upon. But alas, there is a padlocked gate at the bottom and no chance of making our way up to that forbidden panorama.

As we, the spectator, sit in the spiky stems of cut wheat the building seems to rise above us, forcing our gaze up to the sky and to the sight of two buzzards circling high against the clear blue of the sky, their cries dipping in and out of earshot on the gently cool summer breeze. From our view point we can see a glimpse of another far off landscape, falling down behind the horizon and curiosity beckons us to rise and make our way through the golden grasses and over the ridge.

Artists notes:

I have been painting this silo for over twelve years now and it remains a constant source of inspiration due to its unique location and shape. I had always wanted to paint this view from a low view point increasing the sensation of the size of the building. The buzzards add to the feeling of open landscape and are a typical sight in this part of south west France. Their presence seems to add to the ambiance of the silo’s isolation, as if being its only friends.

This work is in oil paint and made of several layers of thin paint to create the nuances of colour in the grasses and the intensity of the blue summer sky.