The Blue Barn, Crummackdale

On the track out of Wharfe up Whitestone Lane towards Crummackdale sits this photogenic little barn. I adore the vernacular hereabouts as one building style differs from the other depending upon the area, the geology and the wealth of the farmer. Some have wonderful corbels, some have expensive carved lintels, some are crudely built but each one has its own personality and story. A walk on a late autumn day with a low sun, just catching on the tops was the immediate trigger for this little painting.

Its a difficult feeling to convey, but just ambling round the dales without a specific purpose of finding a subject often results in some absolute wonders. The painting was painted on a triple-primed mdf panel and sanded back, following the usual acrylic blocking in - the alkyd oils were used to pull out the detail and drag the painting together. I dont always work this way, sometimes I will use promarkers to build the tones but more recently the acrylic underpainting has taken precedent.

If you have never been to Crummackdale and Wharfe - I highly recommend it, its one of those beautifully secluded valleys whose secrets pop out at you through exploration.

Blue Barn, Crummackdale. 10" x 8" oil on panel.