The original art was in pastel, painted and sold in 2000.
Inspiration:
My mother collected wagon wheels, while my sister Lori loved the color blue and Victorian homes. As children, Lori and I built forts from hay bales in Grandma's barn and collected "jewels" of hardened sap from the old apple trees on the farm. Each tractor in the collage is a John Deere 4020 Diesel.
A dear "Deere" friend is the puppy or kitten who is contented to be with you, who can romp and play, then sleep on your lap. In that dreamy time of day, a rest from play, the boy is safe with a friend who loves him no matter what. Now the autumn sun and sky reflect on his face. Come spring, a taller boy will romp with a long-legged dog.
I created the image at the request of Ducks Unlimited (DU) as a follow-up print to the 1998 one, "Lab Assignment." It was distributed at DU banquets in a seven-state region during 2000. I retained a small number of artist-proof prints, this being one of them.
Special thanks to Garrett, the local boy who posed for the art.
Color: Some computer screens may modify the color of the art. Some may make the image lighter or darker than it is. It has fresh blue, autumn golds, and deep green. This image has looked beautiful in mat colors of blue, brick-red, rich green, and all earth colors. The boy's flannel shirt seems to lend itself to many different mat and frame colorings. The area around the oval image has a coloring like aged buff leather.
Image Size: 18 x 16" with white borders around the image making the total size larger
Kind of print: Lithograph
Printing: Regal Printing, for Ducks Unlimited
Limited Edition #1250 prints plus artist proofs, all signed and numbered by the artist. Almost all were sold in 2000. The lithograph printing plates were destroyed, so no additional copies would be made, to keep the edition limited.
Unique art to bring warmth and beauty to your home, a limited edition helps to assure appreciation of value in the future.
This print would make a heartwarming gift for someone who once had a pedal tractor or a puppy, for someone who grew up in the country or visited grandparents there.
I will ship worldwide if buyer uses PayPal. The print ships FLAT. For your understanding, my actual shipping costs (besides postage) include a new box ($3.80); an acid-free foamcore board, corners, and clear bag ($4.00), all of which are safe for long-term storage, if framing is delayed. I will insure it for a safe journey to you. COMBINED shipping is fine on multiple purchases.
GIFTS from the artist to you
There will be a small brass plate with the title engraved on it.
The artist will also personalize the print FREE in neat handwriting if you request it. Some people request a message such as this example: For my father on his 60th birthday, from ____, with best wishes from the artist.
Caution: Prolonged sunlight and fluorescent lights may cause colors to fade.
Heat, high humidity, and dampness will also damage fine art.
Framing and matting is on your own. Please use acid-free mats to make a space between the image and the glass. The print will be flat during shipping to you, with its corners slipped into plastic corners applied to a museum foam-core board, protected also by an acid-free clear bag over everything. The wrapping is safe for longterm storage.